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1st Cavalry Division Association302 N. Main St.Copperas Cove, Texas 76522-1703

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West, TX76691

Permit No. 39

VOLUME 70 NUMBER 2

HORSE DETACHMENT by CPT Siddiq Hasan, Commander

MARCH / APRIL 2021Website: www.1CDA.org

Published By and For the Veterans of the Famous 1st Cavalry Division

SABER

INDEX PAGE1CDA OFFICE NEWS 161CDA BAT 17 5th CAV 5545th MP CO 21 7th CAV 78th CAV 89th CAV 912th CAV 615th MED 1920th ARA 1877FA 18

INDEX PAGECALENDAR 2CHAPTER INDEX 15CHAPTER NEWS 14CHANGE ADDRESS 2DOCTOR'S REPORT 11DONATIONS 20ELECTION 10HICCUP 5HISTORIAN 10HONOR ROLL 23HQ AND SPEC TRPS 22LETTERS TO EDITOR 2

INDEX PAGELRRP 4NEW MEMBERS 17 OTHER REUNIONS 5REUNION 12-13REUNION T-SHIRT 12SABER RENEWAL 2SOUVENIR SHOP 15TAPS 20TROOPER'S TALE 3VIETNAM REPRINT 17 WANTED 11

I just returned from Copperas Cove, Texas, home of our 1st Cavalry Division Association. I was there to attend a meeting of the Asso-

ciation Board of Governors. As the name implies the Board of Governors is the governing body of the Association. One of the primary objectives of the February meeting is to approve the Association’s budget for the current year. We also review the finances of the Association and that of the Foundation. This year’s meeting was held with some attendees in person and some/most via Zoom. Most of the members of the Board were in attendance via one or the other. All business was handled rather well – as we get used to these virtual meetings, they are certainly getting easier. In person is still my preference, however. The mood of a meeting and personal interactions before, during, and after the meeting make for a better understanding of possible differing viewpoints thereby improving the end results, in my opinion.

My return trip home took a little bit longer than planned. Due to a combination of weather and mechanical issues the flight from Dallas to Charlotte was delayed 16 hours. So, I got home Monday afternoon rather than Sunday evening. When I was still working and travelled frequently on business, we had a saying, “if you have time to spare, go by air.”

While waiting in the Dallas airport I had a chance encounter with a 99-year-old WWII Veteran who was travelling alone. Conversation in a crowed airport and wearing masks made conversation difficult. However, I found out that he had been on the survey team of an artillery unit. He had trained at Ft. Sill and he and his whole artillery unit was shipped directly from there to France. They arrived there 14 days after D-Day. Later his 105 unit fired in support of U.S. Troops during the Battle of the Bulge. NOTE: Even though he was travelling alone, the American Airlines personnel took really good care of him.

I have read that there is now a commission to recommend name changes for several military installations including Fort Hood. Some people are suddenly upset about those names. It seems that more than 150 years after a certain military conflict ended, we are required to erase all things that remind us of it – the good or the bad.

Things are starting to return to a life with fewer restrictions in our area. Cathy and I have both been vaccinated. It used to be if someone said, “He’s had his shots” they meant their dog.

Stay healthy, stay safe. And, as always, thank you for your service.First TeamAllen (TrailSpike 47)

Allen Norris (704) 641-6203

[email protected]

THE PRESIDENT’S CORNERAs we leap into spring the Horse Cavalry Detachment has been busy

participating in parades around the state and conducting demonstrations for the communities around Fort Hood. We said farewell to a handful of Troopers as their contracts came to a close or they changed duty stations, (PCS) moving onto new adventures and endeavors. We wish them all the best of luck and success in all they do.

The Horse Cavalry Detachment had the privilege of hosting MG Elviss, commander 3rd Division (UK), and his deputy commanding generals prior to the execution of III Corps Warfighter Exercise. We purchased four new mounts from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in Huntsville, TX expanding the herd size to 32 horses on our way to 44. We got them to the barn just in time for them to enjoy the snow and ice in their new homes. The new mounts are coming along well in their transition from prison horse to cavalry horse. They have already participated in a staff ride with the SFAC commander, BG Jackson, and all seven SFAB command teams.

We hope that you were able to see us at the parade in Sweetwater, TX on 11 MAR 2021 for the Rattlesnake Round Up; or the Cowtown Goes Green parade in Fort Worth, TX on 13 MAR 2021. We had a great time at those parades and

being able to be on the road again engaging with our supporters. We also are thankful for the civic leaders that rode out for a Thursday demonstration coordinated by III Corps on March 25th and April 22nd.

As the wildflowers begin to bloom across Central Texas, we hope to see you at the Burnet Bluebonnet Festival on April 10th, be sure to mark your calendars and we will see you there!

Feel free to call (254) 287-2229 with any questions. You can also find us on Facebook (1st Cavalry Division Horse Cavalry Detachment) where we post pictures from the barn and will keep you informed of upcom-ing events and ceremonies. The Facebook page now has an official email that you can send questions and

request for support to. HOT TO TROT!Picture Caption: SSG Minor demonstrating the follow through of a quarter to

cadets at Texas A&M University as they prepare for Parents weekend in April.

The ladies and I managed to sur-vive Texas’ recent “freeze-aged-don”. Good to know it will be another 10 years coming before we must again deal with that crazy weather. Until then, you can bet the sale of generators and log splitters

will skyrocket; I know what I will be buying stock in. Back to reality, Texas is slowly reducing the restrictions for gatherings, restaurant

capacity, and re-re-re-opening the bars across the state. Most airlines are using the “on your honor” concept when boarding flights and mandate the wearing of masks. I suspect this will continue through the end of 2021. Texas has lifted the mandatory mask mandate; it will be up to the establishment to wear or not wear a mask. However, and with many other states, this can change at a moment’s notice.

You will see some address changes in the Saber. The Gift Shop’s Catalog Sales is now being run out of the main office in Copperas Cove. The reason being is, the current Gift Shop will close on or about 1 October 2021 (just after the reunion) when the 1CD Museum closes its doors in preparation for a move into the Continued to pg. 2

Dara C. Wydler302 N. Main St.

Copperas Cove, TX 76522-1703(254) 547-6537

[email protected]

THE DIRECTOR’S CHAIR

DIVISION DOINGS Snipers by Day and Fathers by Night Story & photo by: SGT Calab Franklin, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

FORT HOOD, TEXAS – As the new year begins and the training within the 1st Cavalry Division takes pace, two Greywolf snipers with 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cav Div, take to the woods with no hopes of being found, Fort Hood, Texas, Jan 20, 2021.

The two Troopers, SPC Jarrod Thomas and CPL Dalton Palmer would both seem like regular dudes if you met them on the street or within their homes amongst their families, but if you catch them in their duty uniform then you would probably never get to tell the tale. The two U.S. Army Soldiers are among one of the most elite, precise, and feared sections of a combat team; a sniper platoon.

“I have always liked ballistics and guns,” said Thomas. “It is interesting to me; the trajectory, wind, and other things that can affect the round from point A to point B.” Thomas is a husband and the father of two daughters, a four-year-old named Malia and a one-year-old named Juliana who are two of the biggest reasons for his service. “I joined to have a better life for my family, better myself as an individual, fins more meaning than just yourself, you know, you are fighting for something bigger. This is my country, I love America,” said Thomas.

Becoming a U.S. Army Sniper is no easy task - there are several intense, technical, and extremely difficult tasks you must undergo at the qualification course such as advanced camouflage techniques, concealed movement, and terrain utilization.

Palmer stated, he enjoys the individual challenges and group-oriented training that occurs within a sniper section and that he always encourages the Troopers around him to go to Fort Benning, Georgia and complete the sniper course. Palmer, like Thomas, also has a family of his own with a wife and a daughter named Bethany, but the word “family” has an extension to his work as well.

“Since we are such a small section, everyone we work with is family,” said Palmer. “I know anybody and everybody in here has my back.” When asked why he joined, Palmer simply stated that he just wants to serve his country.

At the end of the day, these two Greywolf Troopers embody the spirit of the 1st Cav Div and prove to be among the most elite of Cavalry Soldiers. Both men plan to continue their service and perfect their craft as snipers as snipers in the future, ensuring their units have precise and lethal firepower on the battlefield.Continued to pg. 11

1CDA EVENT CALENDARSept 22-26, 2021 73rd Annual 1CDA Reunion, Killeen TX (In Sept to honor Division's 100th Birthday!)Nov 9-11, 2021 12th Annual Veterans Day in Washington D.C. July 6-10, 2022 74th Annual 1CDA Reunion, Dayton, OH

SNOWBIRDSIf you have two addresses during the year, we need to know them. Please give us the dates and addresses for both households.(Circle one) Winter Summer Rank and Name: __________________________________________________LAST 4#s SSN:_______________________ DOB _______________________1: Address: _____________________________________________________City: ___________________________State: _____ Zip: __________________Dates: __________________________Tel: (_______) _____________________

2: Address: _______________________________________________________City: ___________________________ State: _____ Zip: ________________Dates: __________________________Tel: (_______) _____________________

MARCH / APRIL 2021Don’t Keep it a SECRET, Let us Know About It.To submit by e-mail, send to [email protected] and Mail to 1st Cavalry Division Association302 N. Main St. Copperas Cove, TX 76522-1703

Last 4 #’s of your SSN___________ Tel: (______) _____________________

Rank and Name:_______________________________________________

New Address: _________________________________________________

City: _______________________ State: _______ Zip: ________________

E-Mail:_______________________________________________________

AD

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ARTICLE SUBMISSIONOriginal, clear copies, typed or printed are accepted via

e-mail at [email protected]. Articles should be received at National Headquarters no later than the 1st of

every odd month. Any article received after the 1st of the month will be put in on a space available basis.

Opinions expressed are the writers and not necessarily those of the Saber or the 1st Cavalry Division Association.

LETTERS TO THE EDITORTo be considered for publication, letters should not exceed 300 words and should

be of general interest and in good taste. Letters express the writer’s opinion, not that of the Saber or the 1st Cavalry Division Association.

Political endorsement and poetry cannot be used. Form letters or third-party letters are not acceptable. Letters which contain libelous or obviously untrue statements will be automatically rejected.

All letters must be signed with addresses and telephone numbers included. Names will be used with the letters but addresses and phone numbers may be omitted. Letters also may be edited for length or clarification.

We reserve the right to reject for publication any letter received. Unused letters will not be acknowledged.

saberSABER

The newspaper of the 1st Cavalry Division Association published during each even numbered month at

302 N. Main St., Copperas Cove, TX 76522-1703Phone: (254) 547-6537 / 547-7019

Email: [email protected]: http://www.1CDA.org

www.facebook.com/AlumnioftheFirstTeam Dara C. Wydler: Executive Director Tina Wilgeroth: Program Director / Editor / Graphics Karleen Maloney: Memberships / Scholarships / Chapter Director

SABER RENEWAL / DONATION FORMRenew my Saber $_________ for _______ year(s) @ $10 per year (6 is-sues). Fill out and return the form below or attach your Saber label so we

have your pertinent information. D-Trooper Fund $___________

In Memory of: _______________________________________________

Association General Fund Donation $______________ In Memory of: _______________________________________________

Your "In Memory of" acknowledgements will appear in the HONOR ROLL section of the Saber

D-Trooper Program consists of a donation of $25 or more. This donation will give you one year of Saber with the remainder going into the D-Trooper Fund. The D-Trooper Fund is one of the more positive means by which you can actively participate in furthering the programs of the Association and again show your pride as a CAV Trooper–a LifeTime Member of the First Team! If you choose to participate in the D-Trooper Fund, your name will be published in the Honor Roll section of the Saber newspaper and we will send you a certificate suitable for framing, for your first donation only.

LAST 4 NUMBERS OF SSN ____________ DOB ______________________Rank _______________Name_________________________________________Address___________________________________________________________City _____________________________________________ State __________Zip _____________________ Phone (________) ______________________ E-mail ___________________________________________________________

CREDIT CARD #______________________________________________ EXP DATE:__________ CVV: ___________

TOTAL AMOUNT $___________________ SIGNATURE ________________________________________________

You can also renew online at www.1CDA.org Log in>>> Saber Newspaper >>> Saber Subscriptions/Renewals

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:Thank you so much for the money awarded to me by

the Ia Drang Scholarship Fund! Now that I have this, I have more of an opportunity to further my education and not worry as much about the costs associated with it. I really appreciate this gift very much, and I know I’ll put it to good use towards my tuition and books. Again, thank you so much.

Abby Forsythe

Dear Ia Drang Scholarship Fund/1st Cavalry Division Association,I would like to thank you for the generous scholarship

you have provided for me this past year. I know during this pandemic money is tough to come by and you chose to graciously award me during this school year. This money is greatly appreciated and will help continue to provide for my education as well as keeping me focused on school and not worrying about finances in these uncertain times. Even with being an athlete, there is a lot of school left to pay for and I am super grateful for you to be able to help me. Not only for me but for my family as well. Giving some financial relief to us will not go unnoticed.

I appreciate your efforts throughout the years and can not thank you enough for what you have done. Thank you again for your generosity and support!

Sincerely, Josh Forsythe

Dear 1st Cavalry Division Association,I have been receiving a scholarship from your foundation for the last couple

of years. With my graduation this coming semester as a history teacher, I must thank all of you for your support of my education. This scholarship has truly opened many doors I never thought possible and as I begin job searching, I feel truly blessed. Thank you and best wishes.

Justin Sagerhorn

Dear 1st Cavalry Division Association,I would like to thank the 1st Cavalry Division Association for awarding me with

this gracious scholarship. It is helping me finish my master welder certification that will help better my daughter's life as well as mine. I plan on opening my own business at the end of school. I am so thankful for all the support that the Association gives. It has truly been a blessing.

Sincerely, Jacob Wilgeroth

A donation to the FOUNDATIONof the 1st Cavalry Division Association

helps a student achieve their educational goals and is an investment in the future of America.

Consider donating today.

DIRECTOR'S CHAIRContinued from pg. 1Mounted Warrior Museum. The current plan is to re-open the Gift Shop, in Cop-peras Cove, 1 November 2021, just in time for the holidays. However, catalog sales will continue without interruption.

I need to remind everyone who is submitting their reunion registrations. There is $20 registration fee for the Reunion. Please be sure to add this into your grand total when submitting a paper copy of the registration form. The online form does this automatically. You will receive a confirmation letter in the mail. Read it carefully; we will let you know if you owe money.

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the September Reunion and meeting new attendees. I will say it again: Come hell or highwater we will have this reunion. See y’all there.

MARCH / APRIL 2021 saber

Culmination of treasured long lost stories or photos from our members.

Trooper's Tale

A Co 13 SIG, 1959 My Story of Korean Service and Spraying of Troops by Richard K. Pegg

As a young Soldier of 19, I had never been away from my hometown. I joined the U.S. Army in 1958 and in 1959 I received orders to Korea. It was a 16 to 20 days on the Troop ship USS Mann. Once docked, a 2-1/2-ton truck took us on an hour ride in complete darkness to our compound. Finally, I arrived at the Communications Center, A Co, 13th Signal Bn, 1st Cavalry Division, Eighth Army, GEN Beauchamp was our commander.

The compound was located on Highway 1 near the village of Munsan with plenty of surrounding hills and mountains. Highway 1 was the only so-called paved dirt road; the other roads were oxen paths that led past sparse villages consisting of thatched straw huts with no electricity, rice paddies, and little vegetation to speak of.

We jumped off the trucks and were directed to a hooch over there. I started off into the darkness and began climbing a hill. I arrived covered in dirt and dust. After getting settled I wanted a shower.

I was warned to wear my boots and stay on the path of wood pallets to the showers because of spraying that had occurred earlier that day. I complied and headed to the showers.

The posted instructions were, “Turn Water On, Then Off. Soap Up. Rinse Off.” I splashed under a bit of water and lathered up. When I pulled the rope to rinse off, no water came out. (Later I found out that the water tank on the adjacent hill behind the latrine was empty, and that water was delivered only once per day.) I toweled off as best I could and walked back to my hooch, only marginally cleaner.

Showering on a cold Korean night was a challenge. You made a mad dash back to the hooch to put on clothes. As you entered the strong smell of kimchi greeted you. The KATUSAs (Korean Augmentation to the United States Army personnel — Republic of Korea Army) were cooking the kimchi on our pot-belly stove with our portable water.

I slept on one end of the hooch in what was called the NCO end with SGT Baldwin, occupied by nine U.S. Soldiers and approximately 15 KATUSA.

When you got time off, you would venture off the compound to go into the villages. For transportation, you either walked or got a ride; when you were lucky enough to get a jeep or any other vehicle, you had to perform motor stables in exchange, and there were no gasoline stations to pull into and say, fill ’er up!

All the gasoline and oil came in 55-gallon drums and you had to put a manual hand pump into the drum and start pumping.

Guard duty was a very cold and lonely time. I made one big error while on guard duty one time, I had my mount detail prepared to raise the flag in the morning and everyone was tired. I went to my hooch and a short time later I was summoned by the commander. We had raised the flag upside down, which meant distress, and I paid for that mistake!

Many times, while off duty MPs came to the villages to order you to report back to camp because of an alert. There were plenty of alerts day and night. When you were on alert, you were trucked to your bunker and stayed there until the alert was over, sometimes for at least 24 hours until reinforcements could relieve us.

As the sun went down, you would have to be ever so careful, because there were no lights, just a candle, or a small wood fire and smoke. A source of amusement and challenge upon walking back to the compound in complete darkness was to do so without falling into a rice paddy or stumbling into a wall or dike surrounding a paddy. If you were unlucky enough to fall into a paddy, you wore the stench and suffered the laughter of your buddies all the way back to your hooch.

My 24-hour duty consisted of working in the communication center using a teletype, radios, field phone and switchboard, sending and receiving messages of all priorities, from Secret to Top Secret. I would encode and decode encrypted messages on a KW-9 rotor system. When not at the communication hut, you were either at the alert bunker or communication truck/van or kept busy with other tasks such as guard duty, filling sandbags and running errands for the officers. At the end of the day, SGT Baldwin and I had the responsibility of destroying all evidence of classified material. We emptied trash cans, retrieved teletype tape from the floor and behind the machines, and burned everything. Many files, in-cluding personnel records were destroyed after we had forwarded the information to a higher Headquarters.

While on the compound you always kept an eye out for spraying of defoliants and mosquito repellent, trying to shelter yourself from the mist as best you could.

When important messages came in, those addressed to DMZ/Panmunjom, I would place them in a pouch and drive my jeep to the 15th Aviation Company where I would board a two-seat airplane (referred to as a Bird-dog observation plane) for a 15-minute flight to DMZ/Panmunjom (by jeep over dirt roads the trip took about an hour). My stays at the DMZ lasted anywhere from a half hour to eight hours, and a few times all day and overnight.

I also delivered classified messages to the DMZ by jeep passing by the following nearby villages. In addition to villages, I traveled past all the artillery units and other types of units. The sergeant always made sure I had a loaded M-1 rifle, my .45 caliber pistol, water, and a full fuel tank. Messages to the DMZ included reports of patrol ambushes, work party assaults and North Korean infiltrations; in my area, tunneling by North Koreans and periodic weapon firings.

No matter where I traveled, I encountered spraying that I drove through. I washed my hands and eyes with the water I carried. Spraying usually occurred three to four times per month in any given area, but as I traveled widely delivering messages, I am sure I was sprayed more often. The spray came down as a mist from the helicopters, known as eggbeaters. Occasionally, big planes conducted the spraying.

ROK Soldiers participated in hand spraying as well as scattering herbicide powder without gloves to protect their hands. The villagers would disappear in their straw huts because the rubber shoes that they wore did not provide too much

protection for their feet. You could smell the spray in the air, and it would make your eyes and exposed skin burn and tingle, causing you to cough. The hotter the day, the worse the effects. Sometimes you would attempt to shield yourself with anything available, such as a poncho.

As soon as possible after the spraying stopped, people headed for the showers (assuming the water tanks were not empty), making sure to wear their boots and stay on the path of wood pallets. We had a laundry boy, a Korean villager, wash our clothes.

After experiencing the routine use of defoliants, I came to understand why there was so little vegetation. While doing some research I found out that the military had used five to six different types of herbicides during my tour of duty (1959–1960). Sources: <www.koreawar.org>; GrayBeards Korea Association Magazine <kwva.org/graybeards/>.

Chemicals used before Agent Orange, Study done by COL Limburg and Dr. Bradley under syndromes of uncertain origin; Korean War Veterans Mortality Study Report and Toxic Chemicals; Betty Wazker <[email protected]>; Barbara Wright <[email protected]>; Yonhap News Agency, Washington, D.C.; Yonhap News Agency, Jongnu-Gu, Seoul, South Korea, arti-cle dated May 31, 2011, modified May 31, 2011 1350 KS; Eighth United States Army Historical Files.

One night when we arrived back at the hooches, SGT Baldwin came to me and said, “Pegg, you are going home.” The Red Cross had received word that my father was extremely sick and may be dying. All my buddies presented me with a traditional short-timer’s stick. I was loaded on a truck and in route to Inchon.

When traveling through the numerous villages, some of the Korean people were throwing stones and hitting our truck with sticks. When we got to the Seoul area, the civil disturbance got worse. We finally made it to Inchon and at that time, we were informed that the Korean people were starting the overthrow of Korean President Syngman Rhee.

At the point of debarkation, Port of Inchon Center, before I could be processed to come home, we were dusted (including our duffel bags) with a white powder. Later I found out it was the insecticide DDT. One last procedure in the process signing a paper that said I would not talk (about my service in Korea).

The ship I boarded for home was none other than the USS Mann, the same Troopship by which I had arrived months earlier. This time we took the southern route home, stopping in Honolulu, Hawaii, for several days to resupply and refuel.

The Navy food was excellent on board if you could keep the food from sliding back and forth on the counter. You stood to eat. The Marines on board guarding US service men prisoners were tough, “Don’t look at prisoners.” (servicemen arrested for just about anything, some went AWOL because they did not want to serve in Korea; some even wanted to go to the North Korean side of the DMZ but were stopped.) We sunbathed on the deck, watched movies on a screen on deck, and this time the ocean was calm, except when a wave, three stories tall would drop down unexpectedly.

The next thing I remember seeing was the Golden Gate Bridge! Then I boarded a train from California to Pittsburgh, PA. After several days I arrived in Pittsburgh, where my family greeted me.

Thirty days later, I was reassigned to NORAD Control HQ, 18th Artillery Group, Oakdale, PA, on a compassionate reassignment.

I always wanted to return to South Korea as a civilian, I finally fulfilled my desire in September 2019 when my daughter Tricia Pegg Robison and I embarked on a tour of South Korea with other U.S. Veterans and their families. I was amazed at what I saw, modern infrastructure and transportation, a thriving economy, and a functional political system. It made me proud and happy to see Korean society flourishing. Everywhere we went, our hosts treated us with gratitude and honor.

I have or had several types of cancers, and I have also dealt with breathing problems, COPD, and diabetes. All those years ago, the spraying did not concern us, we thought the Army (U.S. Government) knew what they were doing, and that they would not do anything that would jeopardize our health. At the age of 19, I did not give much thought to how my service in Korea would shape me into the future. Now, however, I recognize those growing experiences and I understand that adversity and challenge made me a bigger and better person.

I pray that the South Korean and United States governments realize their past errors and grant these Veterans due benefits. It is a difficult process filing claims; I have been denied my benefits twice.

It is exceedingly difficult to obtain information from any government and harder still to find living eyewitnesses from 1959-1960.

While conducting research I found out that our military had used five to six different types of herbicides during my tour of duty in Korea: DDT, Arsenic, Benzene, Trichloroethylene (TCE), Tetrachloroethylene (PCE). Heavy metals included: Lead, Zinc, Nickel, Copper, Cadmium. YOU BE THE JUDGE

Richard K. Pegg <[email protected]> 412-974-9178

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assessment team had triaged the badly wounded NVA when we arrived and determined that he wasn’t going to make it and didn’t waste any time with him. While we stood watching, our wounded NVA gasped once and died, provoking an emotional and tense response from all of us. We got everybody loaded up and made the short flight back to Phouc Vinh in silence, secure that we had done our best, and gratified that we had pulled it off and were still in one piece. Slashing Talon 32 was coming home.”

“Following my DEROS, I mailed a letter to Bard to say hello and wish everyone the best. However, on May 13, 1969, my letter was returned with a note from the Commander, U.S. Army Mail Terminal, San Francisco, stating that I regret that it was not possible to have delivered this mail to WO Davenport.”“On 27 March 1969, aircraft UH-1H, 66-16714 was lost to hostile ground fire at coordinate XT636587 in Binh Long Province. It crashed and burned killing WO1 Bard E. Davenport, SP4 Allan G. Harper, SP5 John B. Waller, WO1 William D. Potter from Manchester, Iowa was also killed in the crash.”

On a different note, the following email was received from COL Dick Baumer, USA (Ret) in response to the story on War Dogs that appeared in the January-February issue of the Saber.

“Ken, just got my new issue of Saber and was grateful to see your review of War Dogs. It’s great that they are getting the recognition they deserved.”

“One clarification I think you should be aware of concerns the tracker dogs. Nothing that takes away from your article or needs correction, but just something that you may not be aware of since the focus was on the dogs. Although the Sentry, Scout and Mine & Tunnel dog teams consisted of one handler and one K9, Combat Tracker Teams (CTT) by modified table of organization and equipment (MTOE) had 5 men and one dog. A CTT was composed of a Team Leader, a Visual Tracker and two Cover Men, plus the dog and handler. The cover men protected both the visual tracker and the dog and handler when either was on track. Which element was employed during the course of the mission depended upon the team leader’s determination. All four non-handlers were trained visual trackers who were also trained at British Jungle Warfare School (BJWS), then Ft. Gordon, to follow footprints, scuffs, and disturbed vegetation. The CTT was truly a team in that all members carried both extra water and rations for the dog.”

“I was honored to command the Cav’s trackers, the 62nd Infantry Platoon (Combat Tracker) during 1969 and was the Training Officer at the Scout Dog School at Ft. Benning prior to Vietnam, and Chief of the Visual Tracker Division at the Tracker School at Ft. Gordon after my tour. John Dupla, a well-known member of the 62nd Infantry Platoon (Combat Tracker), attached to the 1/9th Cav in Vietnam, was a visual tracker in the unit just prior to my arrival and I know him well from the platoon reunions we hold almost annually in Lake Charles, Louisiana.”

“By the way, the Military Working Dog (MWD) Team Support Association (MWDTSA), an all-volunteer nonprofit that I am on the board of, celebrates K9 Veterans Day on March 13 each year. Last year we sent 102 boxes to living and retired MWDs. During 2020 we also sent over 1,000 care packages to MWD teams of all services who were deployed overseas. Our primary mission has been to support both ends of the leash, since 2006.”

“I am hoping to make the next 1st Cav reunion this year in Killeen. Many of my CTT guys have been to them and came away stoked by the experience!” “Dick <[email protected]> COL Dick Baumer, USA (Ret), 1st VP MWDTSA”

Inserted here is a photo that LTC Jim Wright (1967), Yorktown, Virginia sent to me of the Soldierstone Memorial, which is located in a very remote area of Colorado. The memorial is intended to commemorate the forgotten Soldiers and civilians from Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, France, and other nations, who secretly fought alongside Americans during the war in Vietnam. The memorial sits above the small Rocky Mountain

town of Saguache in the Rio Grande National Forest near the Continental Divide Trail on Sargents Mesa and is at an elevation of 11,425 feet. It was built by LTC Stuart A. Beckley USA (Ret), who served in the U.S. 5th Special Forces in Vietnam.

On a different note, I received an email from Bill Carpenter, Fairmont, West Virginia (1967-68): mentioning that John LeBrun (1969-72) has available copies of the book Historical Occurrences of the LRRP/Rangers of the 1st Cavalry Division during the Vietnam War. You can contact John at <[email protected]> for details. The book is an anthology of first-person stories of LRRP/Ranger missions in the Vietnam War.

Finally, the Covid-19 virus is still with us although the finish line is coming into view, so until we get the all-clear signal from health officials, be sure to wear a mask when in public, practice social distancing, and wash your hands frequently. And, if you find yourself in hell, keep going (Source: Winston Churchill).RANGERS LEAD THE WAY.

MARCH / APRIL 2021 saberHello from the nation’s capital. I had planned to visit the National Museum of the United States Army at Fort Belvoir, in February, and provide a report of my visit in the Saber, but the museum is

closed to the public due to the current pandemic, according to the museum’s website, and my visit had to be postponed. I will reschedule it to a future time once the museum is open and accepting visitors. You might remember from the January-February 2021 issue of the Saber, that the museum officially opened its doors on Veterans Day, November 11, 2020 after a very impressive grand opening. The opening was virtual and included speeches by a number of high-level dignitaries, including acting Secretary of Defense Christopher C. Miller and Secretary of the Army Ryan D. McCarthy, both of whom were Army officers, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army General Mark A. Milley. The speeches were followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony that featured the Army’s Golden Knights Parachute Team jumping out of a C31 Fokler F27 aircraft onto the museum grounds and presenting a golden saber to the museum’s director, Tammy Call, to cut a black-and-gold colored ribbon signaling the official opening of the museum. Of course, everything was pre-recorded and broadcast as video. According to the museum’s website, the objectives of the museum are to honor America’s Soldiers, preserve Army history, and educate the public about the Army’s role in America’s history. There was no indication given on the website as to when the museum might open to the public.

On a different note, I came across an interesting story on the internet about a LRRP Team from Echo Company, 52nd Infantry (LRP), 1st Cav. The story was entitled Wet n’ Wild and was authored by J. Bruce Huffman. Mr. Huffman was a helicopter pilot with Charlie Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, in the Phouc Vinh area, in late 1968–early 1969.

The story starts with the CO and 1st Shirt of Echo Company, in the operation’s office of the 1/9th Cav requesting immediate support for one of their LRRP teams, Slashing Talon 32. No date was given in the story, but it had to be early 1969, based on the start of tour dates for several of the participants. (Note, the LRRP Chain of Command document compiled by John LeBrun shows CPT George Paccerelli and 1SG Jerry Price as being in command of E Co at that time.) The team was in a running firefight with an NVA unit and was moving towards a nearby river that was supposedly wide enough for a Huey helicopter to hover over the water without hitting any tree limbs or terrain features with its main rotor blade and allow the team’s 6 members to climb up onto the skids and into the helicopter. The LRRP team had ambushed an NVA unit on a trail alongside a stream and had captured the point man but the team had to carry him because he had been wounded in the ambush and could not walk on his own. What was left of the NVA unit was in hot pursuit of the LRRP team and the team needed to get to the river and get extracted.

According to Mr. Huffman, “My crew couldn’t have been better picked by anyone to do the work we had to do that day. WO2 Bard Davenport from Wilton, Maine, would do the flying from the right seat, and I’d be the aircraft commander handling the radios from the left seat. SP5 John B. Waller from Berkeley, California, was the crew chief, and SP4 Allan G. Harper from Villa Rica, Georgia, was manning the M-60 machinegun on the right side. The LRRP CO and 1st Shirt would accompany us on the flight. The Cobras had raced ahead to support the LRRP team and to sort out the tactical situation. Less than 20 minutes later we were on station and square in the middle of a monumental FUBAR.”

“The LRRP team found itself pinned against the rapidly flowing river with no LZ and the bad guys attempting to flank it. They quickly realized that there was no way to get the wounded NVA down the riverbank, into the current, and onto the helicopter, while laying down covering fire. Slashing Talon 6 made a snap call and asked us to go down and get as close to the riverbank as we could. Bard brought us to a low hover over the water while both Cobras had set up an orbit to our right and were laying down some seventeen-pounders less than 100 meters north of the LRRP team.”

“About this time, the LRRP CO un-strapped and along with his 1st Shirt, jumped into the river and started swimming to the riverbank to link-up with the LRRP team to reinforce and assist in the extraction. SP4 Harper also jumped into the river and followed. They quickly got on the radio to coordinate the extraction. Seeing this, the LRRP team moved the wounded NVA down the riverbank and into the water suspended on a poncho. As they approached the skids of the helicopter,

they realized that the water was over their heads and that they could not lift the wounded guy into the helicopter. Bard took Mr. H model for a swim lowering it into the water until the water level was inside the cargo compartment. Bard then held it as steady as a rock while SP5 Waller got out on the right skid, hanging from the M-60 pylon knee deep in river water and helped the LRRP team float the wounded NVA into the helicopter on the poncho. The team members then swam into the helicopter, rucksack and all, while Bard eased us out of the river, and the Cobras rained high explosives and nails along our right side as we lifted out and headed to Long Binh and the pad at Charlie Med.”

“Our wounded NVA looked terrible as we flew toward Long Binh and medical care. The medics at Long Binh off-loaded him and the LRRP team decided to disembark as well to monitor the situation while Bard and I flew to Phouc Vinh to refuel and return to Charlie Med. What none of us realized was that a medical

SP/5 Harper’s exit, and Slashing Talon 6 & 1st Shirt swimming to LRRP Team on riverbank.

Soldierstone Memorial, Rio Grand National Forest, Colorado

Ken White3834 Inverness Road

Fairfax, VA 22033(703) 352-1468

[email protected]

L R R P / R a n g e r N e w s


Bill Shepherd3201 Broad St.

Parkersburg, WV [email protected]

(304) 480-1067

Harold P. "Doc" Truitt4584 50th St W

Rosamond, CA 93560661-810-5971

[email protected]

5 th CAV News

Every cycle of this column has been more fun. Some time back, SGM Ernest O. Zenker USA (Ret) sent me a copy of an article by PFC Phil Manger with a great description of a night assault that I liked and wanted to present. I contacted Stars and Stripes for permission and received same, but it seemed I did not have the entire story. The requirements of Stars and Stripes was that it be presented in its entirety. Both “Ringo” Philip Osweiler, and Jay Phillips reached out and sent the material to me again but due to my promise to S&S and my original attempts to read the SGM’s referred newsprint, I was concerned that I did not have it all. Jay was in touch with Phil Manger whose phone number was on the forwarded email so I very presumptuously, called Phil Manger. Phil was in C Co 1-5 when he wrote the piece as an entry into his diary. He later showed the entry to an officer in a headquarters unit up the chain from him, who sent it to Stars and Stripes. He clipped the article himself and emailed to Jay. Phil and I spoke for some time and with his help, by way of Jay has brought us here.

The view of an operation, from the eyes of a squad member is quite different than in the eyes of the planner of that operation. And the appreciation of what is being achieved can be another thing again. It is not difficult to see the shock and awe of our current formation with its Abrams tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles. It exudes power just sitting in the motor pool. Our Division in Viet Nam also brought that to the fight. We have a unit citation to prove it! But the problem faced then was different. Engaging large enemy formations was ex-ceedingly difficult and costly, and if done without imagination would have been embarrassing. To engage those units, you had to find them. We knew where they went through, and we had some idea of where they were but to engage you must obviously know exactly! We found them by constant searching sweeps through the places that had to hold them, and we did it with company sized and smaller units. It took guts and imagination to work out just how to do this without sac-rificing those small units, and of course we paid at times as Soldiers always do. But we did in fact engage, hold, and then use artillery and aircraft to bring the lethality that is part of what we do. Phil Manger describes one aspect of what we did very well. Here it is:

“We sat on our forward operations base (FOB) and waited while the six heli-copters and their escorts flew to Quang Tri for fuel. The choppers had picked up the first platoon of C Co, 1-5 Cav, but the pilots decided there was not enough fuel to complete the combat assault. While the choppers were gone, dusk turned to darkness, and we began to wonder how the choppers would ever find us again, let alone the new landing zone (LZ).

“The LZ on which the two companies were located was not much, even as far as FOB’s go. It was only a small grassy knoll on a bluff above a bend in the river. On all sides of us were hills covered with defoliated jungle which by day gave the impression of a snowless winter landscape. A half hour passed.

Darkness hung over us like a damp blanket, an overcast making it impossible for even the feeble light of the stars to seep through. The only illumination provided by tiny red dots of light that were cigarettes burning. The night air had been chilled by intermittent rains which had fallen during the afternoon and evening.

“Another 15 minutes passed, at 8:45 the friendly artillery fire began. We knew by the buzzing of the rounds as they passed over our heads, and by the explosion of the rounds as they landed on the new LZ a kilometer and a half to our south.

In between the high explosive rounds, illumination would go up, showing the way for the assault choppers and the gunships and ARA (aerial rocket artillery) ships which were on their way.

“The artillery firing stopped, and the armed choppers went to work. The ARA ships fired their ordnance from positions directly over us, sending 2.75-inch rockets on fiery trajectories to the new LZ. There is something exciting about being so close to such a display. Instead of the whoosh followed by a boom which is heard from a distance, with each rocket fired, we heard a double thunderclap followed by the ground explosion.

“And the sight was even more impressive. At this distance we saw three ex-plosions with each rocket: one as it left the tube, the second halfway to the target, and the third, a shower of sparks on the target itself.

Following each ARA pass came the minigun display. Like ray gun beams, the 7.62mm rounds traced glowing red streaks toward the target. The ray-gun effect was enhanced by the series of reports that came at such a rate that they made not the characteristic rat-a-tat of machine gun fire, but the hum of a high-powered outboard motor. The nighttime display amid strange surroundings and under eerie illumination gave the impression of being in some alien universe.

“The ARA and minigun did not stop until the six assault choppers were well past our position, almost to the new LZ. From our grassy knoll a click and a half to the north, we could distinctly see the choppers dip below the skyline to deposit their loads. Our Blackhat (the helicopter guide), who was on the radio the entire time, told us to get ready to receive the choppers, two at a time, to pick up the rest of C Co. Earlier that day he directed the insertion of the company, and later the extraction of the first platoon.

Under the Blackhat’s instruction, ground guides, holding aloft feeble electric torches, took up positions on opposite sides of the FOB and awaited the approach of the choppers. They approached from the north, hanging low over the treetops, beams from their powerful landing lights swinging from side to side, pointing out obstacles to be avoided. They came in pairs, one landing on the west side, the other on the east side of the LZ, coming in such perfect coordination that four skids touched the ground at almost the same instant.

“A few seconds on the ground was all that was required for the Troops, five or six to a chopper, to climb aboard. In less than a minute, the choppers were airborne again, their landing light beams again swinging from side to side as the choppers cleared the nearby treetops. And in the same second that the two choppers cleared the treetops, two more choppers touched down in repetition of the procedure. The scene was repeated 18 times during the night, until the entire company had been inserted into the new LZ.

After the last choppers had deposited their loads on the new LZ, and had turned back toward LZ Jamie, only two platoons and the command post of D Co remained on the lonely FOB. With the burning out of the last illumination round, the element found the quiet night its only companion.”

The above was originally published by Stars and Stripes, in its Pacific edition, Nov 13, 1968 and is presented here as an example of the detailed planning and execution of every Troop movement, even down to a simple Troop relocation. Little was ever left to chance.

During this cycle, Philip “Ringo” Osweiler, Jay Phillips, and Daniel Whitson all contacted me, as well as Tim Soyars, who served as a platoon leader in C/2-5. For that tour, Tim served from March ’67 to March ’68 and has written a par-ticularly good book on his time there called, Where’s Charlie? I spoke to Tim on the phone and that conversation, as well as the one with Phil Manger, was on my mind as I put this together.

I grow prouder of my time with B Co 2-5 Cav every time I reflect on what this unit has done, and the people it is and was made up of. My assignment to the 1st Cav Division and to 5th Cav have shaped my life. Thanks to everyone of you!

FEDERAL SURPLUS PROPERTY PROGRAM - VETERANS SMALL BUSINESS ENHANCEMENT ACT

The Veterans Small Business Enhancement Act, and the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (NDAA), provided that small businesses in disaster areas, Veteran-owned small businesses, and small business concerns located in Puerto Rico, respectively, should be considered for surplus personal property distributions. The Small Business Administration (SBA), in coordination with General Services Administration (GSA), developed procedures for determining how firms may participate in GSA’s existing surplus personal property Program, and under what conditions.

Specifically, this has granted access to Federal Surplus Property (FSP) to Veteran-owned small businesses, and they must be certified as a Veteran or Service-Connected Veteran Owned Small Business to be able to participate in the FSP Program.

The type of property that is available is tools/shop equipment; office equipment & supplies; furniture; heavy equipment; vehicles (all types & sizes); generators; musical instruments; exercise & gym equipment; commercial kitchen equipment; boats & rafts; trailers; storage containers & tanks; airplanes & helicopters; medical supplies; emergency management equipment; and much, much more! The program is funded through the sale of the equipment at a cost of 5 - 10% of the purchase price of the equipment and transportation cost.

The restrictions on the property are: Acquire for business use only. Restriction period of 12-18 months; Subject to compliance checks, including on-site visits, and it is considered federal financial assistance, therefore subject to audits, non-discrimination laws. The individual states administer the program and besides federal property, the states usually have a similar program to get rid of their surplus property.

If you search individual states, they should have a site to provide additional information and guidance. For Texas, it is the Texas Facilities Commission and program information is found at <http://www.tfc.texas.gov/divisions/supportserv/>

Therefore, you might be able to own some of the 1st Cavalry Division history as they start getting rid of vehicles and equipment from Fort Hood as the 1CD Museum closes and most of the items will be declared as excess to Fort Hood and National Mounted Warrior Museum.

T H E H I C C U P - Health Care Information Committee Report

James R. Rollins1566 FM 3258

Lufkin, TX [email protected]

OTHER REUNIONSA CO 1-12 Cav, 19-23 Apr 2021. Double Hilton, Asheville, NC. Reservations

828-274-1800; POC: J.D. Kirby 770-534-8676.

D CO 2-12 Cav, 11-16 May 2021. Cabins in Edgar Evins State Park, TN. Reservations 800-250-8619; POC: Fred Wilson 740-331-1814.

12th Cav 15th Annual Reunion, 31 May-6 Jun 2021. Welk Resort, Branson, MO. Reservations 800-808-9355 GP # 633590 12th Cavalry; POC: Thomas Crabtree 432-853-4851.

15th Medical Battalion Association Reunion, 10-13 June 2021. Courtyard Kokomo, Kokomo, IN (near Grissom Aeroplex). Reservations 765-453-0800 use Group Code 15th Med Bn POC: Dan and Betty Korty, Call or text 765-714-6838. Info at <www.15thmedbnassociation.org>.

20th & 79th ARA Reunion, 30 Aug-3 Sept 2021. Holiday Inn Express 199 East Bay Street Savannah, GA. Reservations 912-231- 9000 or 888-978-6498; Hosts are Jerry and Ann Hipp.

A Trp, 9 Cav Vietnam Era Reunion, 1-5 Sept 2021. Albuquerque, NM; POC: Ron Livingston, <[email protected]>.

77FA Reunion, 15-20 Sept 2021. Elegante Hotel, Colorado Springs. CO. Reservations 719-576-5900 use code #2696746; POC: John Moran, <[email protected]>.

1st Cavalry Division Association 73rd Reunion (Division 100th Birthday), 22-26 Sept 2021. Shilo Inn, Killeen, TX. Refer to pages 12-13 for available hotels, registration form, & further information.

C Trp, 9 Cav Vietnam Era Reunion, 25-27 Sept 2021. Columbus, GA; POC: Pat Bieneman, (859) 771-6342 or <[email protected]>.

D CO 1-12 Cav, 27-30 Sept 2021. South Point Casino Hotel & Spa Las Ve-gas, NV. Reservations 702-797-8901; POC: Tom Kjos 480-352-2583 or Fred MacLennan 347-853-1281.

Have your upcoming reunions posted here!

MARCH / APRIL 2021 saberThomas Lon Crabtree

195 Buzz Street # 18Branson, MO 65616

[email protected]

www.12thCav.US

1 2 t h C AV N e w s

Hear Ye…Hear Ye…Semper Paratus!Reminder: from our Treasurer, Gary Pezzuti, D Co 1-12, 1967-68: “$20.00

annual dues for the 12th Cavalry Regiment Association expired on June 30, 2020. Thank you to all those whose have brought their accounts current and to those who generously contributed to the Trooper Support Fund.

If you have not paid dues for some time, the $20 will update your account. Payments should be made payable to 12th Cavalry Regiment Association and sent to the address below. For those unsure of their standing, drop me an email or make a phone call. Again, thank you for your past and future support, your generosity is appreciated.

Welcome Home/Semper Paratus, Gary Pezzuti-Treasurer 1967-68, 16 Voight Lane, Layfayette, NJ 07848 or <[email protected]> 973-875-3300

Added Comment: from Secretary/Saber Scribe/Historian, Thomas Crabtree, C Co 1-12, 1966-67: $20 annual dues go toward expenses to publish the Quarterly Crossed Sabers Newsletter (printing-mailing) and the 12th Cavalry Association Directory updated and published every other year. Both provide a source of continuity for current and future members, intended to preserve the history and legacy the 12th Cavalry. We also have the annual costs for our website <ww-w.12thCav.US.gov>. A modern and updated version is being developed by Fred Wilson, D Co 2-12 1970-71, and his daughter Jocelyn. Should be operative by the time you read this.

These funds are disbursed from the general fund while Trooper Support Fund provides a source to assist Troopers and families who have come onto difficult times through no fault of their own. When one of our brothers or sisters has crossed over, we use funds to send condolences and wreaths to the grieving family members and a Stetson to surviving family members, as an Honorarium to Troopers honorable, brave, and unselfish service.

Help us to preserve this tradition by updating your status. If you have changed locales/addresses, emails, or phone numbers please inform either, Gary at the above contact point or Thomas (see contact info on the top header).

Membership in 12th Cavalry Association is not restricted to WWII, Korea, Vietnam Veterans. Anyone who served in a 12th Cavalry unit, anytime, war zone/peacetime/stateside, is welcome and encouraged to join our group and contribute to the ongoing legacy of the 12th Cavalry. Our stories and history must be told by those who know them best, ALL the men and women who stepped up and heeded the Country’s call. Your service is valued regardless of the Era or time periods and capacity you served in. Semper Paratus!

Two Corrections: Jan/Feb 2021 Saber story told by COL (R) Phillip Blake, Two G.I. Joes…I reported that COL Blake was of West Point Class 1961 should have read Class 1960 and that he was BN XO. COL then CPT Blake served as BN S-1 his first four months in country Jul ’66-Oct 66, then as A Co 1-12 Oct 66-Jul 67. My apologies to COL Blake for these inaccuracies.

Last issue of Crossed Sabers, 12th Cavalry Newsletter reported that “Doc” Tom Jensen, C Co 1-12 Medic 1967-68 was in hospice. Thanks to “Doc” Jo-seph O’Keefe, Medic C Co 1-12, 1967-68, we know that Doc Jensen is residing in Pocatello, ID Veterans Home. He can be contacted by mail at: Tom Jensen, C/O Idaho State Veterans Home, 1957 Alvin Ricken Drive, Pocatello, ID 83201, phone 208-524-6168. Encourage those who knew and served with Doc Jensen to send him a note or call. Least we can do given the help rendered by our medics whose lives were constantly on the line when trying to keep us alive.

Speaking of recording and preserving truth and accuracy of war, I direct your attention to one of the best blog sites of the Vietnam War era: Spencer Matteson’s Blog can be accessed at <https://warstoriesweb.wordpress.com/author/spen-cer8858/>. An excellent account of the Battle of LZ Bird 26 December 1966 written by Spencer Matteson, C Co 1-12, 1966-67. Many accounts have been written about LZ Bird, by casual observers/pop culture historians, and folks in other service branches. As one who was part of the LZ Bird scenario, Spencer’s story is one of the most factual renditions of the battle told from the guts and soul of one who experienced this often misreported, misunderstood blunders and the lingering aftereffects, still evident 55 years later. LZ Bird was the battle in which the first MOH was awarded to a 1-12 Cavalry Troopers, SGT Delbert O. Jennings.

Spencer has given me permission to tell the story in this column, however, deadline requirements prevent relating the full content now. With the intent of inspiring others to tell their stories I offer a few excerpts from his story, with a few comments of my own.

On 16-17 December, the battle of 506 Valley took a toll on 1-12 Cav, with numerous casualties accrued to C and D Co’s. Remnants of D Co had been taken to LZ Pony for recuperation. C Co was at less than 50% of TOE strength. When we first arrived at LZ Bird we were told this would be our Christmas re-prieve from the intense contacts with the enemy we experienced throughout the month of December. As we unloaded from the choppers and took our assigned positions in the perimeter bunkers, most had that haunting feeling that this was not going to be a break in action. Numerous patrols and LPs were conducted in the outlying areas surrounding the LZ and reports brought back about significant enemy movement in the area. To some of us relating our observations it seemed that the information was not heeded. Lo and behold the attack erupted 0100 hrs, immediately after the Christmas cease fire expired.

As Spencer tells it, (paraphrased by me, due to word and space restrictions): “Christmas day rain soaked us to the bone, and we thought we had the night

off. After midnight and pitch black, dense, tropical clouds blot out the moon and stars while out in the darkness just beyond our perimeter, hundreds of small, wiry, underfed bodies are slithering through elephant grass, closing in on us with uncanny stealth. They are the NVA’s 22d Regiment, well trained, disciplined, motivated, and reinforced by local VC insurgents. Estimated 1,000 strong coming upon 170 of us combined artillery and infantry forces. LZ Bird is about the size of a football field, relatively level small plateau. Strategically, a questionable position and many feel we have been set up as bait.

“Shortly after 0100 hrs a roar of incoming mortar, rocket and small arms fire

wake me from slumber as Charlie hits with everything he has. In a few short seconds I see the two men on watch at my bunker are wounded. I man the M60 assigned to me and fire in the direction of the assault, it jams leaving me in the battle of my life with only my Army issue Colt .45 and a few clips of ammo. To the right of our bunker SGT Delbert Jennings and two men are under such heavy fire they must pull back. Coming toward our position SGT Jennings yells to open grenade boxes. We form an assembly line doing this as fast as we can. Thanks to his quick thinking in seconds, we flip grenades to him with straight-ened pin, he pulls the pins and lets them fly. Mortar and rocket rounds subside, small arms fire increases. Perimeter breached enemy runs by our riflemen with satchel charges attempting to blow up our artillery guns.

“Too much onslaught it is hand to hand combat, Jennings orders us to retreat to left flank we come across several wounded we cannot retrieve them at the time, sick at this thought. We retreat to the farthest point from where the attack began and meet with others from the other side of the LZ. Expecting to be annihilated by overwhelming numbers, we resort to our contingency plan and send up green signal flares so the men out front know to get their heads down as we level a Howitzer barrel and load “Beehive Canisters” that blast out 8,000 red hot metal fleschettes, first actual combat use of these canister rounds. The rounds blunt the enemy attack and only sporadic rounds occur the rest of the night. Gunships show up and light up the sky and for every chopper round fired seems a thousand are returned from the ground, against odds the chopper makes it through. Sometime in the night elements of 1-5 show up. Out of our platoon of 26, only six emerge without a scratch. We have 15 dead and five wounded. The hilltop smolders with dead bodies sprawled everywhere with a strange silence around us. It is a surreal scene. Demolition experts arrived to disarm the enemy satchels and the area from placed booby traps. We search for the wounded and try to assess the damage in human terms.

“We spend the morning dragging lifeless bodies of our comrades to a makeshift morgue to transport to graves registration in Saigon. We commence to drag enemy bodies to graves dug by the engineers. We wipe the blood and mud off our faces hit by enormity of the situation. Death feels contagious as we grab wire or rope to drag the enemy bodies off, we do not want to catch it.

“After the cleanup we patrol to count the enemy dead and examine Charlie’s escape routes. Bodies and parts of bodies blown apart by the artillery hits, twisted, grotesque parts hanging from bushes and trees, the smell of blood, death, rotting flesh. I am immersed in horror and death and become numbed as I go about my business with a vacuous, zombie-like feeling.

“I think the day after is worse than the battle itself. In the heat of battle there is no time to think. When you are exposed to the aftermath of a fierce battle like this, the experience becomes nightmarish. Still reeling from it all, we struggle to make sense of the horrific carnage, little knowing what we are experiencing will affect us for the remainder of our days. The battle was only an hour or two, but the cleanup and body count go on for days.

“They say time heals all wounds, in my case I think it has, at least it has scabbed over and doesn’t hurt so much anymore. I have been back to Vietnam twice since the war. Instead of it being the cathartic, emotional experience I thought it might be, I found I could look back at my war experience with objectively and equa-nimity and without a flood of anger and sorrow. I still on occasion, get choked up when I think about the waste of life, and brothers I lost that night. I made a trip back in 2014 and visited the location where the battle took place, Xuan An Hill. In the process of finding it, I ran into a little old man ambling down the road, through my interpreter/guide, we questioned him if he remembered the battle. He said, “Yes, I remember it, I was there.” He was one of the many local VC insurgents who had helped the NVA that night. We shook hands and buried the hatchet so to speak.”

GEN S.L.A. Marshall wrote the book, “Bird, The Christmastide Battle” to some of us who were part of this battle there were some discrepancies and in-accuracies of perspective. A great WWII historian and personal biographer to GEN Eisenhower, war strategies then may have influenced his viewpoint of the significance of Bird and strategies necessary to fight the NVA/VC.

In Spencer’s words: “Truth is the first casualty of war. Humans are strange and each has his own version of the truth based on their point of view. Governments have their version of truth too; they are called lies. The number of dead and wounded at Bird vary widely, depending upon whom you ask. My experience at Bird I am sure was quite different from the experience of an artilleryman that night. The experience of an officer was quite different from the experience of an enlisted man. (In Vietnam, most of the officers I saw led from behind, not out front, like in previous wars.) What I am getting at here, is that this story is my truth. I have been criticized in the past for things I have written about Bird. Perhaps for not making my American comrades sound brave or courageous enough. I am not writing history though; I am just writing what happened to me as best I can remember it. The war still divides us Vets. We bonded as brothers over there, but like brothers everywhere, we don’t always agree.”

As a C Co 1-12 Trooper 1966-67, I was involved in the LZ Bird scenario. My bunker was the primary point where the attack was initiated. Fortunately, that night I was on a patrol, 750 meters due east of the LZ. We were the patrol that made contact to get fire support from LZ Hammond after all communications had been lost with LZ Bird command post. On 24 Dec, I was in a firefight 20 meters to the front of the CP shown on the right center of the map. One of my bunker mates, for some reason had ventured out without his weapon. As I saw an NVA pop up from a spider hole, I ran to push him out of the way, fired on the enemy as two more popped up, fired on one of them, the third one had no weapon, and I was beckoning him out to take to the CP. SGT Jennings came up, fired on him and that ended the incident. Later that afternoon, our XO and one of the Squad Leaders came around selecting men for a patrol, as they said, “Necessary but one you may not come back from, it is voluntary, but you have been handpicked as one who can handle the situated.” Another part of the story and important piece of the whole scenario, six of us patrolled forward of Bird moving eastward and set up at night. We had made the turn back toward bird on the 26th and stopped at about 750 meters from the LZ as told to do, for the night. We had relayed info about ongoing activity but again it seemed to be discounted. Shortly after the attack all communications were lost with Bird. When we saw and heard the commotion, we received radio contact stating, “We are being overrun, get us some Continued to pg. 20

MARCH / APRIL 2021 saber Karl Swenson

3526 E Park LnBloomington, IN 47408

(812) [email protected]

7 t h C A V N e w s

Greetings and Salutations to all! As we continue to survive this pandemic, we have much to live for, and much to be thankful for. I am so happy that I can once again author this column and speak to all my friends, brothers, and sisters through this medium!

First up in this issue is a message from our Association president, John Guillory. This is John Guillory, your 7th Cavalry Association President with a reminder

for those planning to attend the 73rd Annual 1st Cavalry Association Reunion at Fort Hood, TX, 22-26 Sep 2021. While there, we will elect officer positions for the 7th U.S. Cavalry Association at our luncheon (Sat Sept 25, 12-2pm). The open positions are as follows: President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary.

Any member of the 7th Cavalry Association qualifies to submit their name for election to any of the open positions mentioned. We look forward to hearing from you Troopers who wish to see the association continue to move forward. Additionally, we are asking for nominations for the association’s Honorary Sergeant Major. Please email me <[email protected]> your name for an elected position and/or your nomination for Honorary Sergeant Major no later than 31July 2021. There will be no nominations from the floor. All nominations must be submitted ahead of time so that names can be added to the written ballots will we use. We will conduct the elections and any association business during the last half hour of our unit luncheon in Killeen.

One last item to pass along, we will soon lose our 7th Cav Webmaster. So, if you have an interest in the position and have web management skills, please let me know. In closing, I must say volunteer service is truly a good thing, for the volunteer and for those being served as well. I have served as past Vice President of the 7th Cav Association for 2 years and currently serving as President for 6+ years. I have also served as past Vice President of 1CDA’s Los Angeles/Orange County Chapter for 2 years and current President for 10 years. Service to the Veteran community has been an honor and a privilege. So, step up 7th Cav members and take over the reins of this exceptional organization. Hope to see you all in 2021 at beautiful Fort Hood.

Thanks to John for all he has done and will do for the Association in the future! And I would echo the desperate need for a replacement webmaster. Our current webmaster is ready to move on. If we do not get a replacement, then the 7th Cavalry Association website will languish and fade away, just as we old Soldiers do. However, in this case we will lose the rich history of the 7th Cav that has been so ably maintained by Jim Savage. If you have not been to the website, I would encourage you to do so at <http://us7thcavalry.com>. If you have interest or know of someone who could do this job of maintaining our own website, please come forward, we need your help!! Following is the information that Jim sent to me related to the position: Knowledge in programming languages: SQL, HTML, CSS, PHP, JavaScript, and Perl. Be able to create and maintain contact form mail. Continually test and update website. Test across browsers, operating systems, and devices. Maintain, configure, and troubleshoot servers. Ensure site security by setting up firewalls and login pages. Optimize loading speeds and capacity. Debug pages and fix broken links or images. Update website content. Site performance (e.g traffic, conversions)

Sounds like a lot, I know. But you can do it! Please reach out to Jim, you can reach him at <[email protected]> for further information. I truly hope that someone is willing to take on this important position, there is so much history at the website – it would be terrible to lose it all.

The War Goes On. A few years ago, Clay Mountcastle’s father, Jack, a Vietnam Veteran, showed him a copy of a 1966 issue of Life Magazine, a once wildly popular weekly publication, that he had saved. It featured a cover photograph of a young Army medic in Vietnam, a bandage covering his eyes, tending to a wounded comrade.

The headline read: “The War Goes On.”Besides the fact it was a most compelling,

even haunting, image, the photo hit close to home: The medic was Thomas (also known as Tommie) Cole, whose fleeting moment of fame, the picture by eminent Associated Press photographer Henri Huet also was published in newspapers around the country, cast him in the spotlight briefly and then he was gone. His whereabouts after the war have been a mystery.

Mountcastle, director of the Virginia War Memorial, got caught up in the mystery, poking around the Internet, seeking clues to what became of Cole. Despite coming up dry, Mountcastle has not given up.

In 2000 columnist Mark Holmberg went searching for Cole. He did not find him, but he found some of his story. According to a story from the 1960s in the newspaper archive, Cole was “left with the Richmond, VA welfare department by his parents when he was 4 or 5 years old and lived with several families in the Richmond area.” The earlier story mentioned one of those families, Sidney, and Vera Skinner, but Holmberg was unable to find them.

The 1960s news clippings mentioned that Cole had at one time attended John Marshall High School and that he enlisted in the Army in November 1964. Cole was said to have been interested in medicine and had considered becoming a physical therapist. He became a medic with A Co, 2-7 Cavalry Regt.

According to an account from AP correspondent Bob Poos, Cole was wounded in a two-day firefight at An Thai, a central lowlands village that was part of the North Vietnamese first line of defense. Poos wrote: “Medic Thomas Cole, himself wounded in the head, helped tend the wounded, sprawled in the mud of the trench. He was nearly blinded by the bandage wrapped around his head. But Cole kept going, answering the call of a wounded man here, a dying man there. Cole spent an hour in mouth-to-mouth resuscitation trying to revive one terribly wounded

Soldier. The man died.” Then Cole helped wounded villagers.Cole recovered and returned to his unit. A few months later, Cole was tending

to a wounded sergeant during another firefight when his left arm was shattered by a sniper’s bullet. Another round ripped into his left thigh, according to another account Holmberg found. “I felt something hit me and spin me around,” Cole told a combat correspondent, “and the next thing I knew my face was hitting the gravel.”

Joe Galloway, a war correspondent for United Press International, has called Cole “an American hero.”

We know Galloway as co-author of the 1992 book, “We Were Soldiers Once … and Young,” which recounts the 1965 Battle of the Ia Drang Valley, one of the most savage of the war. Galloway was the only journalist on the ground throughout the fighting with the 1-7 Cavalry Regt. The 7th Cav was also Cole’s regiment.

Galloway was quoted in a 2000 story saying, “A whole bunch of us have been looking for Tommie Cole for years.” They never found him, Galloway said. “We tried everything, including writing him a letter and asking the Veterans Administration to forward it to him, assuming he was in their case files as a VA loan recipient if nothing else,” Galloway wrote in an email from his home in North Carolina. “Never heard a word back. We came to feel that Tommie Cole did not want to be found by his old battle comrades, and the effort slowly died away. One thing is certain: Tommie Cole was a great combat medic and a true hero. I hope he lives happily ever after.”

In Memory of a lost brother….During the first week of December 1950, U.S. Army forces which had pushed across the 38th Parallel and far into North Korea, almost to the Yalu River and the border with China, were forced to conduct rapid retreats to the south in the face of overwhelming waves of attacking Chinese troops. On December 2, the 7th Cav Regt, was withdrawing from the area around Sinchangni, North Korea, when they were attacked by Chinese Communist Forces. Chinese infiltrators attacked the regimental command post and threatened to surround the 7th Cav Regt; however, a successful counterattack forced the Chinese to withdraw and regroup before attacking again the next day.

Corporal John William Manasco, who joined the U.S. Army from Oklahoma, served with B Co, 1-7 Cav Regt, 1st Cavalry Division. He was killed in action on December 2, 1950, one day before his 21st birthday, during a Chinese attack on his unit at Huksuri, North Korea, near Sinchangni. Battlefield conditions prevented the immediate recovery of CPL Manasco’s body, and U.S. forces never again controlled the area where he died. His remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire, and he is still unaccounted for. Today, CPL Manasco is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Raider Soldiers earn their Silver Spurs. Soldiers from the United States Army across the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, and Republic of Korea. Soldiers had their mental fortitude and physical toughness tested to earn their silver spurs during the 2020 Warpaint Spur Ride hosted by 5-7 Cavalry Regt, 1st ABCT, 3rd ID, Dec 22-23, at Camp Casey and Camp Hovey, Republic

of Korea. “I believe that the Spur Ride is important because it validates you as not only a Scout but as a Soldier,” said SGT Dan Satterwhite, a spur holder from 5-7 Cav Regt. The spur candidates completed 14 stations, including a live fire range, medical evacuation, and ruck marching more than 30 miles across Camp Casey/Hovey.

“I joined the Spur Ride after I saw other female Soldiers earn their spurs, and I’m always a go-getter,” said PFC Aniyah Daniel, a unit supply specialist from 5-7 Cav Regt and the youngest spur holder for this Spur Ride at the age of 19. “During the Spur Ride, my body was put through a lot of obstacles that I have never been through. I was exhausted, but I kept telling myself don’t quit, which is what got me through the whole event.”

By supporting and motivating each other, they learned about themselves and the importance of the team. “The support of my team was what got me through all the courses during the Spur Ride, “said SFC Kenneth Shelton, a cavalry scout from 5-7 Cav Regt and the oldest spur holder for this Spur Ride at the age of 42.

I had an interesting conversation with Mr. William (Bill) Brown the other day. Bill is a descendent of SGT Ferdinand Augustus Culbertson (1845-1889), a survivor of the Battle of Little Big Horn. Bill, a former news reporter, has been compiling information about Culbertson and wants to ask if any of you have a picture that might include SGT Culbertson, who also went by the name of Fred. Culbertson was with A Co 7th Regt along with MAJ Marcus Reno; their unit fought in two separate battles, the Hilltop and the Valley battles that fateful day. When the Last

Stand was over, Custer and 268 Troopers were dead on the battlefield. Three days later, Culbertson, a highly respected Civil War hero, was helping to bury Custer and his Troopers when he turned over the body of Trooper John Foley who was clutching the C Co 7th Regt guidon. With permission, Culbertson took the guidon to his home and gave it to a Detroit museum. The guidon was eventually sold at auction for $2.2 million to a private collector.

If you have any information about SGT Ferdinand (Fred) Culbertson, please reach out to Bill Brown. You can call him at (972) 209-7722, email him at <[email protected]>, or write to him at 1314 Apache Drive, Richardson, TX 75080.

Please take care of yourselves in the coming months, as I’m looking forward to seeing many of you at the reunion in September. You can find all the information you need elsewhere in this edition, get registered! Remember, this is the 100th anniversary of the 1st Cavalry Division! The reunion will prove to be one of the best ever. Good luck and Godspeed to you all. Send me your stories, the well is running dry! Garryowen!!

Custer's Guidon

MARCH / APRIL 2021 saber8 t h C AV N e w s

James “Top Gun” Dotson P.O. Box 684

Murray, KY 42071270-978-1075

[email protected]

Hello again everyone. My wish is that we all have had our Covid vaccination. I got tired of waiting for the VA to get in touch with me and the local hospital was giving them out. I was one of the lucky ones to get one of the 750 doses they had. I had called the Marion, IL VA to see when I could get vaccinated and the stock answer was that they were working on a list of veterans to receive the vaccine, starting with the sickest vets first. Ok, I can understand that. I am 72 years, with high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and strain to perform any task, small or large, due to back and knee issues. Just wonder, how many of our brothers are dealing with this issue too.

Coming Home I am sitting at my kitchen table in Tennessee, the temperature is around 10° outside and snow is falling at a good clip right now. I have put some wild bird seed out, probably around 50 little winged creatures are enjoying lunch. A flashback suddenly comes over me. Not one of those frightening ones so many of us have endured, but one of peace. To me, falling snow has such a calming effect, unless you are in a car going 3 miles an hour. Anyway, on to coming home.

January 1969: on the big bird, across the pond, back to the world. Wonder how many times we uttered those words. Back at Ft Lewis, I ended up in the same room that I left from. After all the paperwork was finished, on to Sea-Tac airport for the ride back home. Sweet home Chicago. Got picked up at O’Hare. All the words of “Glad you’re back and Missed you.” It was kind of awkward, I could not find words to say how I felt being home. After some favorite food and a couple of beers, it was on to the recliner in the living room with a huge picture window. My Mom said I looked overwhelmed, and I was. Quietly she shooed everyone out of the room. When I had left ‘Nam it was 90° and 100% humidity. In Chicago that January morning, it was -4° (I had checked). The snow was really flying. As I sat there, tears falling down my face for the brothers I had left behind, I thanked my maker once more for getting me home. At that point, I realized I was safe and did not have to saddle up and get out in it.

So, while I am sitting safe in Tennessee, watching the birds and the snow, the same warm feeling of that moment came back. Thank you, brothers, for saving my life.

Message from Smiley Troopers, it has been a tough year, as men and women of the 8th Cav know. But let us move forward together. Everyone I speak with is excited about the upcoming reunion at Ft. Hood on September 22 - 26, 2021.

I am asking that all 8th Cav members come to the luncheon on Saturday, September 25th from noon to 2pm, the cost is $25. If you have not signed up yet with 1st Cavalry Division Association, please do so soon. It is time to elect officers and board members. It is a new beginning. We are going to have a guest speaker. We will also have a door prize and some incredible things to give out. No money needed, except for new membership. So, c’mon guys and girls, join the fun. Speaking of ladies, I would like to see some of you join up with us. We have a bunch of women who have served with the 8th Cav. Please, please help to make this great unit survive. We need your help, as we always have. I would like to have you on the board or one or two officers. Thank you so much for your time and all your efforts. Honor and Courage, Tommy “Smiley” Harris

Changes Coming I ran across the most interesting thing on the internet. As so many of us are senior citizens, we have seen a lot of things come to pass that never thought we would see. All the following will likely become reality in the next 10-20 years. Many of us will not see the changes but our kids and grandkids probably will.

1. Basic auto repair shops will disappear. Electric cards are sold with a lifetime guarantee. It takes 10 minutes to remove and replace an electric motor.

2. Faulty electric motors are not repaired in the dealership but are sent to a regional repair shop that repairs them with robots.

3. Gas pumps will go away.4. Street corners will have meters that dispense electricity. Companies

will install electrical recharging stations: in fact, they have already started in the developed world.

5. Smart major auto manufacturers have already designated money to start building new plants that build only electric cars.

6. Coal industries will go away. Gasoline/oil companies will go away. Drilling for oil will stop.

7. Homes will produce and store more electrical energy during the day than they use, and will sell it back to the grid. The grid stores it and dispenses it to industries that are high electricity users.

8. A baby of today will see personal cars only in museums.9. Did you think in 1998 that 3 years later you would NEVER take pictures

on film again? With today’s smartphones, who even has a camera these days?10. Software has disrupted and will continue to disrupt most traditional

industries in the next 5-10 years. UBER is just a software tool; it does not own any cars and is now the biggest taxi company in the world!

11. Artificial Intelligence: Computers become exponentially better in understanding the world. This year, a computer beat the best Go player in the world, 10 years earlier than expected.

12. In the USA, young lawyers already do not get jobs because of computers, you can get legal advice (so far for right now, the basic stuff) within seconds, with 90% accuracy – compared with 70% accuracy when done by humans. So, if you study law, stop immediately. There will be 90% fewer lawyers in the future, (what a thought!). Only omniscient specialists will remain.

13. Computer programs already help nurses diagnosing cancer, and the programs are 4 times more accurate than human nurses.

14. Facebook now has pattern recognition software that can recognize faces better than humans. In 2030, computers will become more intelligent than humans.

15. Autonomous cars: In 2018 the first self-driving cars are already here. You will not want to own a car anymore as you will call a car with your phone; it will show up at your location and drive you to your destination.

16. You will not need to park it. You will pay only for the driven distance and you can be productive while driving the young children of today will never get a driver’s license and will never own a car.

17. This will change our cities because we will need 90-95% fewer cars. We can transform former parking lots into green parks.

18. About 1.2 million people die each year in car accidents worldwide including distracted or drunk driving. We now have one accident every 60,000 miles. With autonomous driving that will drop to 1 accident in 6 million miles. That will save more than a million lives worldwide each year.

19. Some traditional car companies will doubtless go bankrupt. They will try the evolutionary approach and just build a better car, while tech companies (Tesla, Apple, Google) will do the revolutionary approach and build a computer on wheels.

20. Insurance companies will have massive trouble because, without accidents, the costs will become cheaper. Their auto insurance business model will disappear.

21. Real estate will change. If you can work from home (or from literally anywhere), people will abandon their towers to move far away to more beautiful affordable locations.

22. Electric cars will become mainstream about 2030. Cities will be less noisy because all new cars will run on electricity.

23. Cities will have much cleaner air as well.24. Electricity will become incredibly cheap and clean.25. Solar production has been on an exponential curve for 30 years, but you

can now see the burgeoning impact. And it is just getting ramped up.26. Fossil energy companies are desperately trying to limit access to the

grid to prevent competition from home solar installations, but that simply cannot continue - technology will take care of that strategy.27. Health: There are companies which will build a medical device (called the Tricorder from Star Trek) that works with your phone – taking your retina scan, your blood sample, and you breathe into it. It then analyses 54 biomarkers that will identify nearly any disease. There are dozens of phone apps out right now for health. WELCOME TO TOMORROW! – some of it arrived a few years ago.

VA News There are some VA offerings that could be helpful for Veterans. The VA is continuing suspension of collection on all Veteran benefit overpayments and medical co-payment debts incurred after April 1, 2020. This is to help Veterans with continued financial relief due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. You can find out more about this and many other topics by subscribing to VAntage Point, the official blog of the VA. Go to <https://blogs.va.gov.VAntage/vetresources>

For questions about benefits or claims call 877-222-8387. For questions about other benefits call 800-827-1000.

Clear Nail Polish? When most of us went into the Army, we were issued: 1 steel pot, 1 helmet liner, package of t-shirts (green), pack of underwear (green), 2 shirts (green), you get the picture (GREEN). Remember going in and getting your attire along with 25 more items thrown on a counter? Nothing fit! Arguing with the clerk as he told you the size 8 shoe you were holding was a size 11 and having to force your foot into it. They threw a bag at your feet, telling you to put your stuff in it and move on to the next line, while they remarked, “Don’t worry, the battalion tailor will be by later on in the week.” Yeah, right!

Following our beloved 8th Cav as I always do, I came across a recent DOD directed review, updating grooming and hairstyle policies effective February 26, 2021. The following are now authorized:

* No minimum hair length for female Soldiers * Multiple hairstyles to be worn at once (i.e. braiding twists or locs) * Ponytails for Soldiers unable to form a bun. * Highlights (uniform blend of colors) * Optional wear of earrings in the Army Combat Uniform for Female Soldiers * Solid lip and nail colors (non-extreme) for female Soldiers * Clear nail polish for male Soldiers What a difference 50 years makes! Closing Poem I’ve known of the following poem since being with the Cav in

‘68 and it never meant much to me until I recently re-read it closely. It is a great poem and I hope you guys can relate to it also.

Honor and Courage, Top GunFiddler’s Green (The Cavalrymen’s Poem)

Halfway down the trail to Hell in a shady meadow green,are the Souls of all dead Troopers camped near a good old-time canteen,and this eternal resting place is known as Fiddlers’ Green.Marching past, straight through to Hell, the Infantry are seen,accompanied by the Engineers, Artillery and Marine,for none but the shades of Cavalrymen dismount at Fiddlers’ Green. Though some go curving down the trail to seek a warmer scene,no Trooper ever gets to Hell ere he’s emptied his canteenand so rides back to drink again with friends at Fiddlers’ Green.And so when man and horse go down beneath a saber keen,or in a roaring charge fierce melee you stop a bullet clean,and the hostiles come to get your scalp, just empty your canteen and put your pistol to your head and go to Fiddlers’ Green.

MARCH / APRIL 2021 saberJim Kurtz

5235 Nottinghill LaneFairfax, Virginia 22032

[email protected]

9th CAV News

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING. The February 2021 issue of Army magazine, published by the Association of the United States Army, contains an article by BG (Ret) John Brown. The article sums up Operation Lam Son 719, an ARVN-US thrust toward Tchepone in Laos that began February 8, 1971. The bottom line is conveyed by the title: Incursion into Laos Ended in Failure. Details follow:

- “As 1970 wound down, the allies had reason to be hopeful concerning the Vietnam War and Vietnamization.

- “President Richard Nixon and his political advisors wanted GEN Creighton Abrams, commander of the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, to do in Laos what he had done in Cambodia: cripple communist options by devastating their logistical support. Such a delay would afford additional time for Vietnamization and provide cover for the proposed American departure.

- “The greatest impediment to success was the recently passed Cooper-Church Amendment effectively barring American ground forces and advisors from op-erating in Cambodia and Laos. Air operations were not so restricted. American air and helicopter support would continue, albeit without the customary ground liaison.

- “The offensive stalled halfway to Tchepone, at about the effective limit of the American artillery based in South Vietnam. For three weeks, fighting eddied around the beleaguered column and its outposts. Allied helicopter losses mounted alarmingly, severely crimping tactical flexibility and resupply.

- “Despairing of reaching Tchepone on the ground, the allies decided to seize it from the air. After several preliminary landings, they seized Tchepone on March 6 with the single largest helicopter assault of the Vietnam War.

- “Opining the mission of logistical disruption complete, (South Vietnam Pres-ident) Thieu directed a withdrawal beginning on March 9. The withdrawal was staged, took several weeks to complete, and remained under heavy pressure from communist attacks. Some units lost cohesion, and much in the way of vehicles and equipment was destroyed or left behind. Most units came out in good order, and all were back across the border by March 23.

- “Lam Son 719 and a major South Vietnamese operation in Cambodia at about the same time did disrupt communist logistical preparations. Nixon declared victory, reporting ‘Vietnamization has succeeded’ in an April 7 television speech.”

The major South Vietnamese operation in Cambodia referred to above had various names, with Thoan Tang 01-71 being the most prominent (it means Total Victory in Vietnamese.) Others refer to it as Second Cambodia. First Cambodia is better known as the Cambodian Incursion in May and June 1970. That one did involve U.S. ground combat forces (including from the 1st Cavalry Division), and it sparked protests back in the United States, including the one at Kent State University remembered by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young in the song, Four Dead in Ohio. Second Cambodia involved South Vietnamese ground forces, supported by Task Force 1-9 Cav, which consisted of HHT (the Command Headquarters) and A, B, and C Troops, 1-9 Cav; A and B Troops, 3-17 Cav; F Troop, 3-4 Cav; Air Cav Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment; and A Battery, 2-20 Aerial Field Artillery (AFA).

SECOND CAMBODIA, 22 FEB TO 19 MAY 1971. On 21 February 1971, the order came to begin cross-border operations the next day. It was no surprise, as the “no U.S. troops on the ground” provision had already caused preparations to begin. For two months, the 1-9 Cav had been training ARVN rifle platoons to rappel from helicopters, get McGuire-rigged back out, and perform ground recon-naissance so they could take over the role previously assigned to the Aero-Rifle Platoons. In the language of the day, the Blues were replaced by the Browns.

With U.S. advisors barred from accompanying ARVN units into Cambodia, air-to-ground communications were critical, and language differences made coor-dination even more of a challenge. In South Vietnam, it was SOP for Pink Teams to operate on their own, with the aircraft commander of the high bird (the Cobra) running the mission. For Second Cambodia, each Pink Team was accompanied by a command-and-control (C&C) Huey. In the back were an ARVN liaison officer (LNO) and a senior Air Cavalry Officer (a captain). Because forces of the Cambodian Army were also present on the ground, many C&Cs also carried a Cambodian LNO.

One function of the senior Air Cavalry Officer in the C&C Huey was to notify Ramrod, an Air Force airborne command post (an EC-121, I believe) when a team crossed the Fence inbound and outbound. Communications were also es-tablished with Air Force Combat Search and Rescue. Inside South Vietnam, the nearest Air Cavalry Troop responded to downed aircraft. For Second Cambodia, the Browns were expected to perform that mission, but the Jolly Greens were available if needed.

Coordination of close fires in support of ARVN ground forces could take a while as we worked through both technical and cultural communications differences. In one mission where I was in the C&C, the low bird reported Troops in forma-tion, wearing steel helmets. In my best high-school French, I explained that spot report to the ARVN LNO, and he immediately started making rocket run gestures with his hands, telling me to attack. Mercifully, the Cambodian LNO could also understand my French, and he informed me the “target” was one of his units.

REMEMBERING THOSE WE LOST IN SECOND CAMBODIA. The 1-9 Cav suffered its first loss on the same day the order was received, before the first aircraft pulled pitch to go cross the Fence. While the rest of us were folding new sets of maps, the Apache Troop Scouts were making the bombs used to take out bunkers. Someone pulled a White Phosphorous grenade from the can it came in, a grenade that was packaged without a pin. It burst, and SP4 Monty Harbin caught the brunt of it. He was rushed to the medical treatment facility at Song Be, but died of his injuries on the 22nd, the same day the rest of the Troop headed for Cambodia.

On 26 February 1971, CPT Jon Swanson and SSG Larry Harrison were in a B Troop LOH providing

close-in fires to an advancing ARVN unit that was taking heavy fire from dug-in automatic weapons. After destroying five enemy bunkers, the B Troopers spotted a .51-caliber machine gun position and marked it for attack by Cobras overhead. While attempting to engage another heavy machine gun position, their LOH was hit by enemy fire; it exploded and crashed to the ground, killing both Swan-son and Harrison. Both were listed as Killed in Action, Body Not Recov-ered (KIA, BNR). Their remains were repatriated in

September 1995, and positively identified in February 2002. On 1 May 2002, President George W. Bush presented the Medal of Honor, posthumously, to CPT Jon E. Swanson. The remains of both Jon Swanson and Larry Harrison are buried together at Arlington National Cemetery.

On 10 March 1971, an A Troop LOH was hit by what was thought to be a B-40 rocket. It crashed into a river northeast of Snuol. The Browns were rushed to the scene, but intense ground-to-air fire forced their return to Loc Ninh. After strikes by 2-20 AFA Cobras and Air Force close-air support aircraft, the Browns returned and were inserted on the crash site. Congress had banned the introduc-tion of U.S. ground combat Troops into Cambodia, but maintenance personnel were allowed on the ground, to rig downed aircraft for recovery, so SSG Nelson,

an A Troop maintenance NCO, accompanied the Browns. The ground party was able to recover the remains of the Observer, SP4 Robert T. Kiser, from the downed aircraft. They also found uniform items on the riverbank, suggesting that the pilot, WO1 Jeff Houser, and/or the Torque (gunner), may have made it out. A Troop returned to the scene the next day, but heavy fire precluded a detailed search. On 13 March, the C&C helicopter was directed to land at the ARVN headquarters at Snuol. Soon out came Jeff Houser, supported by two ARVN Soldiers. He had walked, and used a borrowed bicycle, to reach safety. His return was celebrated that night at the Phuoc Vinh Officers Club, and there the squadron commander approved a first-light mission

the next day to search for SGT Smoot. That first-light mission encountered heavy ground fire, and responded with AFA and air strikes, but the order came from squadron to break it off and go resume the search for COSVN, the headquarters believed to be controlling NVA forces in Cambodia. To this day, SGT Curtis R. Smoot remains MIA.

On 12 March 1971, a hostile ground force fired on a Charlie Troop Cobra, which exploded in mid-air, crashed, and burned. Killed were the pilot 1LT Van Joyce and the co-pilot, CPT Joel Hageman.

On 13 March 1971, ARVN Troops were air-assaulted into an LZ near Snuol. After the insertion, one of the lift Hueys, from the 128th Assault Helicopter Company, was shot down.

A Troop launched a Pink Team to search for the downed crew. Pilot of the Cobra was Apache Red, David “Doc” Schweitzer; his front-seater was 1LT Larry Lilly. Pilot of the LOH was Apache White, Daniel “Ace” Miller. CW2 Adan Salazar was aircraft commander of the C&C helicopter, which was provided by A Co, 227th Assault Helicopter Battalion; his co-pilot was 1LT Edward Maney. The senior Air Cavalry Officer in the back of the C&C was CPT Tom Uznanski, the A Troop Aviation Maintenance Officer.

During the search, ground-to-air fire knocked out the A Troop Cobra’s engine. Doc Schweitzer safely autorotated. The downed Cobra was followed closely by the C&C aircraft, whose AC, Adan Salazar, did not hesitate to ride to the rescue of the Cav crew. Adan saw Doc and Larry Lilly exit the Cobra, and he saw both men running towards the Huey. Then he saw only Schweitzer; Lilly was no longer in sight. The C&C aircraft became the target, taking small-arms fire from enemy forces approaching on foot. Co-pilot Ed Maney was hit three times in the leg, a door gunner was hit in the arm, and Salazar himself was hit in the shoulder by shrapnel.

With Doc Schweitzer safely aboard, Adan Salazar pulled pitch. As they took off, he saw Lilly on the ground, on his back, with blood on his neck and shoul-ders. Once out of the LZ and away from the small arms fire, the wounded Ed Maney was removed from the right seat and CPT Tom Uznanksi, the senior Air Cavalry Officer, took his place and flew the stricken Huey back to Loc Ninh. Records at the Coffelt Database of Vietnam Casualties indicate Larry Lilly was reported MIA on 17 March 1971, and that his status was changed to KIA. BNR four months later.

On 23 March, an A Troop Cobra flown by CW2 Paul Foti and 1LT Don Osborn crashed and burned near Snuol. The official casualty reports posted on the Coffelt Database say the aircraft was fired on by a hostile ground force, but records at the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association website say the aircraft was “Shot down by outgoing ARVN arty round in Cambodia.” Either version could be correct, the National Transportation Safety Board does not investigate aircraft crashes in a combat zone.

Though not chargeable to Second Cambodia, on 24 March, a LOH from the provisional F Troop, 1-9 Cav crashed and burned near Bearcat, in South Vietnam, after taking by ground-to-air fire. Killed were WO1 Steven Larrabee and SP4 William D. Smith.

In early April, SP5 Alton Roberts was crew chief of a C Troop aircraft engaged by hostile ground-to-air fire. Roberts was struck and wounded. On return to base, he was admitted to a medical facility and subsequently evacuated to Japan, where he died of wounds on 13 April 1971. Records of this incident are sketchy. The date he was wounded and the type aircraft he was in are not listed. The location of the incident is listed as “Reportedly near FSB #6, Kontum Province.”

On 5 May 1971, an A Troop LOH exploded and burned after being hit by Continued to pg. 23CPT Jon E. Swanson

1LT Lawrence E. Lilly

SSG Larry G. Harrison

SGT Curtis Smoot


Terry A. McCarl 1122 Main St, Plattsmouth, NE 68048

[email protected]

1 s t C AVA L R Y D I V I S I O NASSOCIATION HISTORIAN

More sad news! First, I have some sad news relating to my Jan-Feb 2021 column. I learned on 29 January that Peter P. O’Brien passed away on 9 Jan 2021 in Foxborough, MA at the age of 86. His obituary is available at <https://www.delaneyfuneral.com/obituary/Peter-OBrien>.

My Jan-Feb 2021 Historians Column was about Peter’s extensive writing and research concerning the Toya Maru Ferry Disaster in Japan in 1954, in which 42 members of the 1st Cavalry Division perished.

I submitted my Jan-Feb 2021column to the Saber Editor on January 4, 2021. It was posted on the 1CDA website on January 27, and I sent Peter an email that day informing him of that, since he had said that he and several of his friends would be anxiously waiting to see the column in print. When I did not hear back from him, I was concerned because he had always replied quickly to emails. I did a small investigation and found that he had passed away on January 9. So, he did not get to see the printed column, but had reviewed the final draft of it before it was submitted and indicated that he was pleased with it.

Peter was a gifted writer and historian, and our Association is deeply grateful to his memory for his efforts in recording the history of the Toya Maru Ferry Disaster, especially with respect to the 1st Cavalry Division casualties.

If anyone reading this column knew Peter, please send me an email, or call me with any memories of him that you have, and I will include them in a future column. (See email and phone number at the top of this column).

PERSONAL MILITARY-SERVICE-RECORDSRecently, I have received several questions from members about individual

military history, so I decided to devote this column to the subject of obtaining individual military service records.

One question was, “How can I know if I received all the medals that I was authorized, and if not, how can I obtain the ones that I never got?”

Another question was from the son of a 1st Cav Vietnam Veteran who said this father had passed away several years ago. His father had never wanted to talk about his experiences in Vietnam. The son was aware that his father had been awarded several medals and said he would really like to know more about them, as well as his father’s military history.

In both cases, and in many other cases, the military service records of the individuals would likely be helpful.

When the suggestion is made to a Veteran or family member thereof, that they request military service records from the National Personnel Records Center, they often break out in a cold sweat and have visions of wading through endless bureaucratic red tape and filling out multi-page application forms. Really, it is not that bad or that time consuming, and in some cases, the rewards can be surprising.

The agency to contact for records is the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, MO. It is part of the National Archives System. NPRC has 56 million military personnel records folders and a staff of over 700. Under normal conditions (before pandemic), the NPRC processed 4000-5000 requests for records per day.

The website that explains all about the NPRC is <https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/military-personnel>.

The only form required to request records is Standard Form 180 (SF 180) entitled Request Pertaining to Military Records. Among the records you can request using this versatile form are your medical records, your Official Military Personnel File (OMPF), and your awards and decorations. The SF 180 can also be used to request unit personnel rosters, but that procedure is somewhat more involved and will be covered in a future column.

At this point, a question you probably have is “Isn’t the NPRC functioning at drastically reduced capacity because of the pandemic like many other U.S. Gov-ernment Offices?” The answer is yes! Since March 23, 2020, NPRC has been dealing only with requests in connection with burials and medical emergencies. So, requests for non-emergency information (the type you want) have been piling up for nearly a year. However, when normal operations resume, presumably non-emergency information requests will be handled in generally the order in which they were received. If you wish to submit a request for records, you might as well go ahead and submit it, and get in line.

You can complete the SF 180 yourself either online or you can print off the forms and fill them out in ink the old-fashioned way and mail them. I personally prefer the old-fashioned way.

For Veterans separated from military service after calendar year 2000, all re-cords are in digital format, and can therefore be accessed online. If you are in that category, you can get your records immediately.

I would like to go through SF 180 with you and explain how to fill it out. Ideally, I would include a copy of the form here in my column, but that would easily take up almost all the allotted space for my column, and even then, due to all the fine print on the form, much of it would not be readable. So, I am going to ask you to do this. On your computer, go to <www. archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/standard-form-180.html> to access and download the form. You may want to print pages 1 and 2 and the Instruction and Information Sheet for SF 180 plus an extra copy of page 1 to write some notes on.

All your information is to be entered on page 1. Page 2 directs you where to send your request, which is NPRC in St. Louis, except for Active Enlisted and Officers. All that needs to be mailed is page 1 plus a page for attachments, if applicable.

To go through this exercise, have your DD-214 close at hand, because you will need some information on it to complete SF180.

OK! Got page 1 of the blank form SF 180 in front of you? Beginning with Section I, Subsections 1-4, 6 and 7 are quite self-explanatory. In Subsection 5, dates entered and released from Active Duty, Reserve Duty, and National Guard should be copied from your DD-214. Include your old 8-digit Service Number if you have it.

In Section II, you can request whatever items you want. There is no charge for any of these records if you were discharged less than 62 years ago. If you are requesting older records, there may be a charge. Review the Instruction and Information Sheet for SF180 for details.

If your DD-214 is faded, coffee-stained, has pieces missing, etc., you might want to check the box to request a new copy.

Check the box that says “Medical Records” if you want them. Unless you were wounded and hospitalized, probably all that will be in your medical records will be routine physical exam results, hearing and vision tests, dental records, etc. These records may be of interest to you, however, so if you want them, just check the box.

Check the box next to “Other,” and enter “Official Military Personnel File” on the line after “Other.” Your OMPF contains such information as duty stations and assignments; training, qualifications, performance; and awards and decorations received. If you want to request medals, this is where to explain what you want in detail. Write “See attached page,” in the blank after “Official Military Personnel File” and attach a plain sheet with the statement, “Please send me the following medals listed on my DD-214, but that I never received” followed by a list.

To develop that list, follow this procedure. Do an inventory of the medals in your possession. If you do not know what they are, some helpful websites can be found by searching for “Identify Army Medals.” An excellent website with photos of medals and ribbons is <https://www.medalsofamerica.com/medals-and-ribbons>. Also, your local VFW, or other Veteran’s group may have a chart on the wall with pictures of medals and ribbons that may be helpful in this regard.

The medals that you are authorized should all be listed in Section 24 of your DD 214. Compare that list to the list of medals that you have in your possession. Make a list of the medals that you do not have and put it on the page you are attaching to SF 180.

Section III: If you are requesting your own records, just check the first box. If you are requesting records for a deceased Veteran as next-of-kin, check that box and enter relationship (generally must be unmarried surviving spouse, parent, child, or sibling of deceased). A death certificate or some other proof of death as specified in Item 2a on the Instruction and Information Sheet for SF 180 must be attached to the request.

In case you are the legal guardian of the Veteran whose records are being re-quested, check that box and attach a copy of court appointment.

You might consider getting some help filling out the SF 180 from your local County Veterans Service Officer (VSO). Every county in the USA is required by law to have a VSO who has received the required training. Generally, their main function is helping Veterans obtain VA benefits, but they are trained to provide all sorts of assistance to Veterans. Their services are paid for by your tax dollars. Do not hesitate to ask for help.

You can find the VSO telephone number in the county office listings in your local telephone directory or go to <www.nvf.org>. Call to make an appointment.

If you do not have access to a computer nor have a child, grandchild, or friend with a computer that can help you, there is a good possibility that your VSO can help you print off forms, access websites, etc.

No guarantees, but I will bet that if you request and obtain your military service records, you will find some information of value in them that will make the small amount of time and effort to request them worthwhile!

OFFICIAL NOTICEELECTION OF OFFICERS – REUNION 2021

The By-Laws of the Association provide that the Officers and members of the Board of Governors shall be elected by the General Membership at the General Membership meeting conducted during the Annual Reunion. Further, that the President may appoint a Nominating Committee to nominate candidates for office and that other nominations may be made by Life Members from the floor at the General Membership meeting. The Resolutions of the Trust Agreement of the Foundation of the 1st Cavalry Division Association and the By-Laws of the Museum Foundation require the election to the Board of Trustees for positions coming vacant each year shall occur at the Annual Reunion. Candidates for all offices must be Life Members of the Association.

The President has appointed a nominating committee to recommend Life Members of the Association for election or re-election to fill the terms of office for the following positions that become vacant as of 25 September 2021:

1st Vice President2nd Vice President3rd Vice President

One Foundation TrusteeTen Places on the Board of Governors

Any Life member of the Association, including an incumbent, who wishes to be considered by the nominating committee for one of these positions, should forward a letter to the Chairman, 2020 Nominating Committee, 302 N. Main St., Copperas Cove, TX 76522-1703, requesting consideration for nomination to the specific office. The Nominating Committee must receive all requests no later than 30 June 2021 to assure sufficient time for processing and full consideration. Requests must be accompanied by appropriate documentation that includes proof of service with the 1st Cavalry Division (e.g., a DD214 or equivalent) and a biographical sketch. The biographical sketch needs to outline the applicant’s full name and provide ranks, dates of service and units assigned to in the 1st Cavalry Division. Additionally, it needs to provide the dates and positions for any offices held at National or Chapter level in the Association and similar information for any other Veteran’s organizations the applicant belongs to. Any instances of special support for Association programs should also be included if applicable.

The election will be held during the General Membership meeting at the 73rd Annual Reunion of the Association on Saturday 25 September 2021 in Killeen, TX. Nominations from the floor will be accepted. A Life Member making such nomination will be expected to provide the information outlined above on the nominee and in addition provide assurance that the nominee is either present at the General Membership meeting or has agreed to accept nomination to the specified office.

MARCH / APRIL 2021 saberT H E D O C T O R ' S R E P O R T

COL (Ret) James Noel HHC 1-5 Cav, 1990 [email protected]

SSG (Ret) Jonathan Shockley HHC 1-5 Cav, 1988-1992 (Doc Shock)

[email protected]

WANTED/LOST & FOUNDOFFICERS and RTO’s of the 1-7 BN, 1968-69

My name is Jim Hilts. I was an RTO at BN HQ for the 1-7 except for a 2-to-3-month period where I was an RTO for C Co. I am writing a book on 1-7 RTO’s. If you were a company CO or a platoon leader and remember your RTO(s) I would like to hear from you. If you were an RTO for any of the 1-7 companies or platoons, I would like to hear from you. And from all of you I would like to hear your memories of any action that you were involved in. You can contact me at: <[email protected]> or 412-269-0217.

CSM JOSEPH C. NORTHRUPMy name is Daniel P. Northrup. I am sending this email to your organization

in the hope that someone who served with my late father would contact me. Here is the background story. My father was CSM Joseph C. Northrup. In 1964, my father was sent to Ft. Benning, Georgia where he worked for LTG Kinnard in the 11th Air Assault Unit. In 1965, he came home one day and told my mother that we would be deployed to Vietnam. My mother, a feisty soul won the argument and convinced my father to retire. He retired in 1966 in a large ceremony at Ft. Benning. Currently, I was completing my junior high years at the Don C. Faith School at Ft. Benning.

To my knowledge, my father was also involved in the Battle of the Bulge cam-paign and later worked for GEN Patton’s son-in-law General John K. Waters. My father passed away in July 2010. He is buried with my mother at Arlington National Cemetery. I would be honored to be contacted by anyone out there who knew my father or served with my father. Unlike my father, I became a US Marine and served during the Vietnam conflict. Thank you for listening and Semper Fi.

Daniel P. Northrup 1099 Sea Bourne Way Sunset Beach, NC 28468 (910) 713-8215

COL (Ret) JOHN R. HALL JR., HHC 1ST MEDICAL, 1940I am looking for anyone who knew COL (Ret) John R. Hall Jr. (HHC 1st

Medical, 1940). He served as the past Association President from 1980-82. I am interested in talking to any of his family members or anyone who may have worked with him. Thank you. Eric Lipetz 954-255-3438 <[email protected]>

BAYONETS I served with the 1Cav Div from October 1968 to October 1969 with 2/5 Cav.

All these years I have wondered why the Skytroopers did not have bayonets. During the Battle of the Angel’s Wing, the Soldiers ran out of ammo. Why did the Division take the bayonets away? I’m sure during some clashes with the VC or NVA they were needed. I know for a fact the Cav pilots were fearless because one night we were hit by the NVA. We needed ammo and they delivered better than getting a delivery from Pizza Hut. If anyone can give me an answer, I would appreciate it. I believe the motto was “SUNNY DAYS/BLACK KNIGHTS.” Richard (Skip) Johnson <[email protected]>

1LT DAVE FIRSTER, B Troop 1/9 Cavalry, 1971My name is Paul Murtha. I was the Scout Platoon Leader of B Troop, 1/9

Cavalry, 1CD in Vietnam in 1971-1972. I am searching for our Ground Platoon Leader, 1LT Dave Firster, who was wounded one day before I was in November 1971 and was medevac’ed to CONUS. I believe he later became an Army “FAO” (Foreign Area Officer) and possibly retired as a lieutenant colonel. We were good friends, but I only knew him as “Blue” so I’m actually not certain his first name was Dave. If anyone is in contact with Dave Firster, please contact me at 304-261-1974 or <[email protected]>. Thanks, Paul “Batman16” Murtha

All the recent inclement weather nationwide and especially in places not used to many days of freezing temperature I thought it might be worthwhile mentioning some cold weather fundamentals for home and house. The major concern for each of individually is the development of hypothermia. As one’s body temperature falls below 95 degrees our heart, central nervous system, musculoskeletal system, and our skin begins to develop injury. Frostbite is the major concern for the skin and musculoskeletal system. When faced with dropping temperature the blood vessels near the skin dilate to try and warm the skin with the body’s blood. As this happens, we are prone to sweating into our shoes/boots. Many of us I am sure remember taking a boot off in cold weather and discovering our socks were wet. This perhaps bringing back memories of changing socks in the field during cold weather operations.

Extreme cold weather can also exacerbate underlying pulmonary/lung conditions such as asthma or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and incite respiratory failure due to the constriction of the air passage and cause respiratory failure.

So, to protect ourselves, we all know rule number one and that is to layer. While we are in tune with layering our core and may wear a shirt, a sweatshirt, and a coat or more; but how many of us layer our hands, feet, head, and face? Making sure we use a good scarf to cover the face and our airways helps to reduce facial and pulmonary cold air exposure. Wearing an over the head and face cover like the bank robbers in movies plus a scarf provides a further layer. Top that off with a head covering and the noggin is protected. Layering our feet by wearing socks designed for maintaining foot warmth and wearing an insulted boot provides foot layering. Mimicking a politician from Vermont with a glove, covered by a mitten, layers the hands. Lastly it is helpful to make the outer layer waterproof.

While addressing our body covering is one defense against the extreme cold, the smartest defense is not to venture into the extreme cold. However, I have been known to snow board and take other cold weather adventures such as hunting, or working outside. When we do so it is important to watch the time spent outside, have a method for warming available, and having backup clothing items when articles of clothing become wet. Last but not least avoid alcohol when in the extreme cold and save the drink for the evening by the fireplace.

Staying warm in the extreme cold also requires making sure the home is safe. First is to make sure we keep our home warm and having a prewinter check of the heating system is paramount. Should we have heater failure and the home has a fireplace we still have methods for keeping warm. But when was the last time the fireplace was cleaned or checked and does the flue work and is the chimney cap ventilating? Depending on how we heat, make sure adequate fuel is available. When the heat goes out having all family members sleep in one room that is central and closing off the other rooms will help conserve heat and then layering the covers. The better the home is insulated around the windows, doors, and attic the better the heat will be preserved during a heat outage.

To have the house prepared for extreme cold all outside hoses should be dis-connected and if possible, have the outside faucets drained. On the inside keep the faucet or shower furthest from the where the water enters the house running at a slow but steady rate will help inside pipes from freezing.

I hope we are finished with the extreme cold for the year, and these nuggets of help will not be needed further this year, but we can store them away for next year.

If there are any previous Cav docs, PA’s, or corpsmen who would like to contrib-ute to the Doc’s corner please send articles to me and we will make every effort to use them in improving the health and welfare of our Troopers both serving and retired. Doc out! James M. Noel M.D. COL RET <[email protected]>

DIVISION DOINGSContinued from pg. 1Sisters in Arms, New Efforts Help Empower Female Soldiers By MSG Miriam Espinoza

On June 12, 1948 the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act created regu-lar and reserve status for women, although women had already been an integral part of the Army since the Revolutionary War when women served in traditional roles such as seamstresses, cooks and nurses. Some courageous women served in combat alongside their husbands or disguised as men, though not in uniform. Today women serve proudly in all jobs offered in the Army including combat military occupational specialties.

2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team leadership understands that with women in combat MOSs there are challenges, and they are leading the way in giving these female Soldiers a platform to interact and learn from other women by starting “Sisters in Arms” a Brigade Female Mentorship Program. “A lot of Military Occupational Specialties in the military are very male dominant and sometimes females don’t have females in their leadership and events like this would help us find a mentor,” said SPC Arushi Arya, who came into the Army as an Allied Trade Specialist (91E), a predominantly male MOS.

By bringing female Soldiers together to interact with senior female mentors it allows each Soldier to find someone who has achieved the goals they aspire to achieve and learn from their experiences and to have someone they feel com-fortable with to ask questions outside of their organization. “As a minority in male-dominated units we felt it was necessary to reach out to our female Soldiers, especially younger Soldiers, and make sure that they know we appreciate their unique challenges and we offer them some experience with our senior female officers and non-commissioned officers,” said COL Ian Palmer, commander, 2ABCT. “In the brigade every Soldier matters, every teammate matters, so we want to make sure that everyone has a voice.”

The program has been developing for several months and its intent is for young female Soldiers to find a mentor, offer coping mechanisms, help them build re-silience and help them understand all the resources available to them. “We are trying to help empower the female population to help them speak out, so they don’t feel like they are in the shadow of males, so that they know we are equal,” said 1SG Wendy Talton, 2ABCT.

The topics covered during this event, the first of its kind in the brigade, were Dual Military Life, Parenting, Domestic Violence, Coping with Deployment,

Healthy Relationships, and Sexual Harassment and Assault, among other common topics that affect Soldiers within the formation. “This program will help people speak up more, it’s empowering females and the more empowered we are, the more comfortable we are to speak up,” said Arya.Lithuanian, U.S. Mortarmen Complete Night Mortar Live Fire By SGT Alexandra Shea

PABRADE, Lithuania – Lithuanian mortarmen from Griffin Brigade’s 23rd Bn took an opportunity to integrate and conduct night mortar fire missions with 2-8 Cavalry Regiment mortar teams to help support a section-level crew gunnery, at the Pabrade Training Area, Lithuania.

“It was great having them out here,” said U.S. Army CPT Spenser Swafford, battalion support officer and event co-coordinator. “I could tell they really enjoyed themselves which made our mortarmen happy to train with them.”

Roughly a month ago, 2-8 Cav mortar teams traveled to Kazlu Ruda, where the Lithuanian 23rd Bn is based, to observe mortar training by their counterparts and to demonstrate the capabilities the U.S. Q-50 Lightweight Counter Mortar Radar System brings to the battlefield by tracking the origin of incoming fire.“Once we learned 23rd Bn wanted to come to the Pabrade Training Area, we were excited,” Swafford said. “We worked with our Lithuanian liaison officer to coordinate the multi-national event.” Lithuanian LT Emily Mazeikaite, signal platoon commander for Griffin Brigade’s 24th Bn, coordinated the transportation and details of the event with Griffin Brigade.

“It was very easy to coordinate the event because I knew the platoon commander,” Mazeikaite said. “For some of the guys, this was the first shot they were able to do. It was interesting for them. They will remember this shooting for a long time because it was the first time they shot U.S. mortars.” Though mortar systems used by U.S. and Lithuanian forces are basically the same, there are small differences between the systems.“For us, there is no lanyard to pull to fire the system,” Swafford said. “We just drop the round and it fires. We also have a computerized system that calculates all the fire direction control.” “We don’t have much variety of weapon systems or practice,” Mazeikaite said. “We are able to learn a lot from you.”

As combined multinational training events continue, Lithuanian allied forces are imbedded with U.S. teams to ensure they gain the skills to operate and fight as one should foreign aggressors threaten Lithuanian land. The combined training also creates an environment for professional relationships to be made and maintained and dispels any personal fears between the forces.

Cut off date to pre-order your shirt is 1 July 202173rd Annual 1st Cav Assn Reunion T-shirts

Pre-order YOURS today!!

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*To have the merchandise shipped, please use the chart to determine rates. No shipping for merchandise picked up at the reunion.

Description: Shirt will be 50/50 black Logo on the left chest as well as full-color imprint on the back.

Please indicate quantities in boxes.

$21.95 each+S/H= Total________________

Shipping Chart:1 Shirt @ $9.002-8 Shirts @ $15.009+ @ $21.00

Please check box if you plan to pick up shirt @ Reunion

Reunion T-shirts will NOT ship prior to 01 Sept 2021.

Please mail order form to:Crossed Sabers Souvenir Shop

302 N. Main St. Copperas Cove, TX 76522

Please visit our website at @ shop.1CDA.org to order online or view clearer artwork.

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MARCH / APRIL 2021 saber73RD ANNUAL REUNION OF THE 1ST CAVALRY DIVISION ASSOCIATION 22-26 SEPT 2021 KILLEEN, TX

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Overview of 73rd Annual Reunion September 22-26, 2021The Crossed Sabers Chapter invites you to join the rest of the First Team family

in Killeen/Fort Hood, Texas for the 73rd Annual Reunion of the 1st Cavalry Di-vision Association from 22-26 September 2021. Most of the First Team will be home for this reunion and we are planning an excellent event. All Life Members and Associate Members of the 1st Cavalry Division Association are welcome to attend this special event. As always, family members of our war dead, Gold Star Families, and widows of our members are welcome to join us for this reunion.

Please register early to assist us in coordinating the best reunion possible. Some events will have limited seating available due to the size of available rooms. All members of the Association must register and pay the Registration Fee to attend the reunion. Early registration, November 1, 2020 through July 30, 2021 is $20 for all members, except those on active duty. Active Duty Troopers pay $10 to register. Those sending in Registrations post-marked after 30 July 2021 must pay late registration fee of $40. Family members attending with an Association member, widows of 1st Cavalry Division Troopers and Gold Star Family members that attend do not have to pay a registration fee.

HOTEL INFORMATION

We will be utilizing the Shilo Inn as the Reunion Headquarters and will hold many of the reunion events that are scheduled this year in the Killeen Civic and Conference Center (KCCC) located adjacent to the Shilo. There are no hotels in the area large enough to hold our group so we will be utilizing busses to get together for our events.

The Shilo Inn has guaranteed a room rate of $109 per night plus tax for up to 130 rooms on peak nights and there is no charge for parking. Call (254) 699-0999 reserve a room. The reservation toll-free number is (800) 222-2244. Make sure that you identify yourself as attending the 1st Cavalry Division Association reunion and make your reservations prior to 21 August 2021. The hotel does provide a free shuttle service from the Killeen Airport. Shuttles and rental cars are available at the airport. The hotel is located at 3701 South W S Young Drive in Killeen.

We expect to have rooms blocked at the Courtyard by Marriott, located at 1721 E. Central Texas Expressway. Many of you may recognize this as the address of the hotel which we used to use (Plaza) but this is a much-improved hotel. The Courtyard Marriott has been completely renovated and remodeled and looks brand new with new plumbing and air conditioning and a fresh new look.

ADDITIONAL HOTELS IN THE AREA ARE LISTED BELOW:Shilo Inn & Suites $109 (254) 699-0999 3701 S. W.S. Young Drive, Killeen, Texas Courtyard Marriott $109 (254) 616-2000 or 1721 E. Central Texas Expy, Killeen, TX (800) 321-2211Residence Inn (254) 634-1020400 E. Central Texas Expy, Killeen, TexasHoliday Inn Killeen-Fort Hood (254) 690-5511 300 E. Central Texsas Expy, Killeen, TexasCandlewood Suites (254) 501-39902300 Florence Rd, Killeen, TexasFairfield Inn and Suites (254) 526-3333 200 E. Central Texas Expy, Killeen, TexasPremium Inn and Suites (254) 432-01002603 E. Elms Rd, Killeen, TexasThere are several other good hotels in the general area in Killeen but if you

choose to stay at one of those hotels, we will not be able to provide bus trans-portation for you. All the hotels provide free parking and there is ample parking at the Killeen Civic and Conference Center.

RV PARK INFORMATIONIf you are coming in a Recreational Vehicle there is an RV Park directly behind

the Killeen Civic and Conference Center. The fee is $25 per night and they pro-vide electric, water and dump facilities. Contact the KCCC at (254) 501-3888 for additional information. If you are active duty or retired military the West Fort Hood Travel Camp would also work but it is several miles from the KCCC, and they do not take reservations. The RV Park in Belton is still open but is no longer a KOA facility.

REUNION EVENT OVERVIEWThe 73rd Annual Reunion will run from Wednesday, 22 September through

Sunday morning, 26 September 2021 and is full of events and time to visit with one another.

This year we will be running our usual events and have again included a Golf Tournament (four-person team, best-ball scramble) that will provide support to our Scholarship Foundation on Wednesday. The golf tournament will be held on the Courses of Clear Creek on Fort Hood. We are seeking sponsors to help off-set costs to maximize our income for the Foundation and its scholarship programs. We will have some teams from the active duty Troopers and hope that many reunion attendees will also want to play and enjoy this event.

This year the Ladies Tea will be held at the Killeen Vive Les Arts Community Theatre adjacent to the Killeen Civic Center and the Shilo Hotel. Lunch will be catered, and the ladies will have an opportunity to watch a live performance at the theatre.

As anticipated, we will have our Welcome Mixer, War Era Lunches, Unit Lunches, Texas BBQ, Purple Heart Breakfast, Ladies Tea, Association Banquet, a Sunday Breakfast, and Memorial Service. We will have meetings of the Chap-ter Presidents, Foundation Trustees, the Board of Governors, and our General Membership meeting. During our General Membership meeting on Saturday morning, we will hold elections for the Association and Foundation.

Seating for all events is open except for the Reunion Banquet on Saturday night. If you are attending the banquet, you must get your tickets marked with a table number at the Banquet Seating table when picking up your registration

packet. If you want to sit with specific people, we recommend that you go to the Banquet Seating table together with your tickets available. Do not wait until the last minute or we may not be able to accommodate your needs.

Cavalry casual attire is appropriate for all reunion events. We are always ques-tioned about attire for the banquet. Wear what you feel comfortable wearing; a coat and tie, your uniform (if it still fits), or casual clothing with open collar. We want you to attend and are not overly concerned with what you wear.

The Association will provide a Reunion Room in the Shilo Inn during the reunion for you to gather and enjoy yourself. Drinks in the Reunion Room are free, but we ask that you generously donate to help us pay for this room.

The Crossed Sabers Chapter Souvenir Shop will set up a store in the Shilo Inn to sell all kinds of First Team merchandise including shirts, hats, Stetsons, pins, decals, and other items too numerous to mention. The Souvenir Shop will also be open in the 1st Cavalry Division Museum during the reunion. A Reunion T-shirt may be ordered, and the order form is located on this page.

The Division will have units deployed but will have Troopers from all our units at Fort Hood during the reunion. The Division leadership is coordinating a special event on the evening of Friday, 24 September entitled “Spirit of the Cav” and other events on post during that day as well. This year we have of-fered an opportunity for our members to pre-purchase a box lunch for Friday’s events. Busses will transport reunion attendees from the Shilo to Fort Hood on Friday for a vehicle displays, visits to the 1st Cavalry Division Museum, and a Demonstration by the Horse Cavalry Detachment. Visits to some of the unit areas will also be available and you can get a first-hand look at today’s Army. If you have not been to Fort Hood for a reunion, make sure you attend and see the great Troopers of today’s First Team.

TRANSPORTATIONThe Killeen-Fort Hood Regional Airport (GRK) is a modern airport with jet

service from Dallas and Houston. Airlines with flights to Killeen include Ameri-can and United airlines. The Austin-Bergstrom Airport with other major airlines is located approximately 78 miles from Killeen and airports in Dallas are about a three-hour drive away.

The following rental car agencies are in the airport: Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, and National Car Rental. Airport shuttle and taxi service is also available at the Killeen Airport.

AMTRAK offers services to Temple, Texas (25 miles away) if you wish to travel by train. Rental cars and bus service from Temple are available.

Trailways bus service is also available to Killeen.

THE BEST PART OF THE REUNIONAs always, the best part of any reunion is the people that attend. The 1st

Cavalry Division Association reunion brings in Troopers from almost every era of the First Team’s history. Troopers that rode horses, fought in the Pacific with MacArthur, occupied Japan, fought in Korea, or stood watch on the DMZ will spend time with the Sky Troopers of Vietnam and the Troopers from Operation Desert Storm, Fort Hood, Bosnia, and the latest combat veterans of Iraq and Af-ghanistan. The equipment and terrain might be different, but the common bond of serving with America’s First Team binds us together. Saddle up and join us in Killeen in 2021!

MARCH / APRIL 2021 saberThis reunion will be in conjunction

with the Division's Centennial Birthday.Come celebrate with the Division!

WEDNESDAY SEPT 22 THURSDAY cont'd SATURDAY cont’d 0900-UTC Association Golf Tournament 1200-1400 Ladies Tea 0900-1100 General Membership Mtg 0900-1800 Registration Desk Open 1930-2130 Welcome Mixer (Cash Bar) 0900-1600 Registration Desk Open 0900-1800 Souvenir Shop Open 0900-1600 Souvenir Shop Open 0900-2400 Reunion Room Open FRIDAY SEPT 24 0900-2400 Reunion Room Open 1300-1400 Foundation Trustee Mtg 0900-1600 Registration Desk Open 1200-1400 Unit Lunches 0900-1800 Souvenir Shop Open 1500-1600 Veterans Benefits Briefing THURSDAY SEPT 23 0900-1500 Events on Fort Hood 1745-1845 Cocktails (Cash Bar) 0900-1800 Registration Desk Open 0900-2400 Reunion Room Open 1900-2230 Association Banquet 0900-1800 Souvenir Shop Open 1500-1700 Spirit of the Cav

0900-2400 Reunion Room Open 1800-2000 Texas BBQ SUNDAY SEPT 26 0900-1000 Chapter President’s Mtg 0700-0830 Group Breakfast 1100-1300 War Era Luncheons SATURDAY SEPT 25 0700-0830 LRRP/Ranger Breakfast 1330-1530 Board of Gov Mtg 0730-0845 Purple Heart Breakfast 0900-1000 Memorial Service (Long Roll Muster)

1st CAVALRY DIVISION ASSOCIATION 73rd REUNION (2021) REGISTRATION FORM

Mail to: 1st Cavalry Division Assn. Reunion, 302 N. Main, Copperas Cove, TX 76522-1703

I will attend the 1st Cavalry Division Association 73rd Annual Reunion at the Killeen Shilo Inn, Killeen, TX (254-699-0999), September 22-26, 2021. Cancellations must be received by 5:00pm Friday, August 20, 2021 in our office (254-547-6537) for a refund. **Cancellations are non-refundable after August 20, 2021 deadline. Registration fee required for Association Member only (Widows and Gold Star Family members pay no fee). Registration fee includes: Name Tags, Reunion Booklet, Reunion Pin, and an information packet.

Are you a member of the 1CDA: Y / N Is this your first 1CDA Reunion: Y / N NAME: _______________________________________ I will be accompanied by: ADDRESS: ____________________________________ (As name will appear on Name Tag) _____________________________________________ Spouse/Partner: ___________________________ CITY/STATE/ZIP: _____________________________ Guest#1: ________________________________ NICKNAME: __________________________________ Guest#2: ________________________________ Contact #: ____________________________________ Guest#3: ________________________________

Guest#4: ________________________________ Unit#1: _______________________________________ Guest#5: ________________________________ Unit#2: ______________________________________ Guest#6: ________________________________ Unit#3: ______________________________________ HOTEL: ________________________________ Gold Star FM: _________________________________

FUNCTION # AMOUNT TOTAL FUNCTION # AMOUNT TOTAL Registration Fee (Members Only) 1 $20.00 $20.00 SATURDAY SEPT 25 After August 20, 2021 1 $40.00 _______ Purple Heart Breakfast ____ $25.00 _______ Active Duty (w/ID Card) 1 $10.00 _______ Unit Luncheons (circle one) ____ $25.00 _______

5C 7C 8C 9C 12C THURSDAY SEPT 23 ARTY HQ LRRP ENG Wings Ladies Tea ____ $40.00 _______ Association Banquet ____ $45.00 _______ War Era Luncheon (circle one) ____ $25.00 _______ 5C 7C 8C 9C 12C Wings Korean War Vietnam War GWOT ARTY HQ LRRP/Ranger ENG Welcome Mixer ____ $30.00 _______

SUNDAY SEPT 26 FRIDAY SEPT 24 Group Breakfast ____ $25.00 _______ Fort Hood Box Lunch ____ $20.00 _______ LRRP Breakfast ____ $25.00 _______ Texas BBQ Dinner ____ $35.00 _______

Credit Card Check Cash (circle one) Add a little extra (Donation)

_______

Saber Renewal $10.00 _______

CC#____________________________________

GRAND TOTAL $

Exp Date ____/____ CCV# _______

(Signature)

Don't forget to include your $20 registration fee!

MARCH / APRIL 2021 saberWe invite all of our Chapter Presidents, VPs or POC’s to contribute any photos, news, or

updates about your Chapter, to be posted here in the Saber! We would love to hear updates from all of our Chapters spread across the United States. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO USE THIS PLATFORM TO SHARE YOUR BULLETINS.

Submission deadline to appear in the next Saber is Monday, May 3, 2021. Please send to [email protected] or mail to 302 N. Main St. Copperas Cove, TX 76522.

CHAPTER NEWSU P D A T E S

CONNECTICUT CHAPTERThe Connecticut Chapter attended a

traditional military battalion review and parade in Hartford, Ct., performed by the First Company Governor’s Footguard. The oldest continuously serving military unit in the United States, chartered in 1771.

The next chapter meeting is scheduled for April 24, 1pm at the Manchester American Legion. All members and prospective members are encouraged to attend. For more information contact Keith Moyer, president at <[email protected]>, or 860-537-1716.

CROSSED SABERS CHAPTERThe members of the Chapter have

survived the winter storm that hit Texas. Many of our members lost power, had frozen pipes, and some went without water or experienced boil notices. Many of you that live in northern climates and experience frigid temperatures and lots of heavy snow and ice storms are probably wondering what all the fuss is about a one-week cold storm, but for those of us who live in the southern states it is not a normal experience. Our houses aren’t built for cold weather, they are built to withstand heat. Our

road departments do not have snowplows or salt because it isn’t cost effective. While many of us are transplants and have lived in northern climates we are not as hardened to the climate as we once were.

We have had no Chapter activities in the past two months but will have some in the weeks and months to come. We are looking forward to a great 1st Cavalry Division Association Reunion to be held at Fort Hood/Killeen in September and hope that you join us in a much warmer Texas. First Team! Dennis Webster, President Photo Caption: Harsh weather conditions in Texas.

FORT KNOX CHAPTERWe are back meeting at Barker Lodge wearing masks and many of us have had

our COVID shots. However, we are still wearing masks as a precaution. We are in the process of upgrading our Fort Knox Cemetery Wall honoring our warriors with a plaque with their name, cavalry service, rank, and units served. We are having to enlarge our wall as we now have more names than we have space. We will be resolving this in March at our next meeting. We are also working on placing another monument to the alumni of the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame. We paid for it through donations and I expect to place kit sometime in April of this year. Several of our Skytroopers will be added to this monument. I am proud to be a part of this work. Robert W. Griffin, Vice President

FLORIDA CHAPTERWe lost another of our Team, our chapter president, Ferd Gardiner passed

away on 2/19/21. He will be missed. Our meetings are on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at the VFW on 4444 Edgewater Rd in Orlando. Hope to see ya there. Gil Harris

NEW YORK-NEW JERSEY CHAPTER

NEW YORK-NEW JERSEY CHAPTER continuedOn June 30, 2007, the New York-New Jersey Chapter and its members, family,

and friends chartered a bus to travel to the army training center to Fort Indian-town Gap in Pennsylvania. The 17,000-plus-acre installation, the Pennsylvania National Guard’s headquarters, and the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs is one of the country’s busiest National Guard training sites.

The Fort Indiantown Gap Range Complex includes small-arms ranges, machine gun ranges, indirect fires systems, and vehicle-mounted weapons systems. Fort Indiantown Gap offers commanders opportunities to train on their traditional full-spectrum and contemporary urban battlefield. Fort Indiantown Gap is com-mitted to training future warriors and is continuing to work toward meeting the needs of our military.

We were met with the base Commander for a briefing on the base. We were able to use the small weapons simulators and the tactical vehicle operations and driving simulators. We witnessed U.S. Army medics use modern battlefield techniques to save the wounded in today’s Army. We were instructed on the Stryker Combat Vehicle capabilities and toured static displays and the museum. We ended the day with a ceremony at the national cemetery to honor the falling. As Chapter President and bus commander, getting everyone on the bus on time to return home was like herding cats. The bus ride home was wild, and there were no reports of MIAs.

SHERIDAN’S CAVALRY CHAPTER2021 Meeting dates remaining – May 8 / Picnic August 7 / October 9/

Christmas Party December 4 Meetings and events are typically held at the Roselle American Legion Post #1084, 322 East Maple Ave., Roselle, IL 60172.

Our October 9th meeting will be held at the Italian American Military Museum located in Stone Park IL.

Our Sheridan Chapter cordially invites anyone who served or was attached at any year with the 1st Cav to join our group. Contact Terry Hodous POC at <[email protected]> or 773-445-1213 for additional information regard-ing membership or attending our future events.

WILLIAM A. RICHARDSON NATIONAL CAPITALREGION CHAPTER

The Chapter Zoomed into 2021 and is never looking back. We are ready to get to the new normal and to resume having breakfast together and enjoying each other’s company. We met in January and wished each other Happy New Year. February, we had an excellent presentation given by Mr. Brad Garrett, retired FBI. Brad spoke on Domestic Terrorism to include: Extremist groups have been part of this country (quick discussion of KKK founding, how it has gone up and down, now other groups have similar views), Timothy McVeigh, Sen Joseph McCarthy, John Birch Society; Current state of right-wing extremist groups and how under President Trump they became empowered, grown in numbers have tremendous influence over a significant part of our population; Why are people attracted to extremist groups/conspiracy theories; what can be done to reduce this line of thinking.

We are, currently, working our schedule for March and April and will announce it later. If you are interested in joining the Chapter, please feel to contact me, via phone 703-220-5322 or via email, <[email protected]>.

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Call or write: Membership Officer

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CHAPTER INDEX

CROSSED SABERS CHAPTER SOUVENIR GIFT SHOP

302 N. Main St Copperas Cove, TX 76544 Phone: 254-547-7019

The Crossed Sabers Chapter Souvenir Gift Shop is a Non-Profit Organization. Net income is distributed to the Association for the Scholarship Program, to the Soldier Travel Fund, which allows active duty Soldiers of the Division to attend away Reunions as guests of the Association, and to the 1st Cavalry Division Museum. The shop accepts telephone orders with payment by MASTERCARD, VISA, DISCOVER or AMERICAN EXPRESS credit cards or you can order online using your credit cards.

Printed Catalogs Are Available For Purchase!Send $3.00 to the ASSOCIATION located at: 302 N. Main St., Copperas Cove, TX 76522-1703.

Make your check out to 1st Cavalry Division Association.

THE ASSOCIATION IS A SEPARATE ENTITY FROM THE CROSSED SABERS CHAPTER SOUVENIR GIFT SHOP.

Online Catalog Visit: shop.1CDA.orgE-mail: [email protected] Hours:

Mon - Fri 0900 - 1600

Crossed Sabers Chapter Souvenir Gift Shop20% OFF COUPON

Telephone Orders Only

Mention coupon code 063021 to receive your discount. 1 per person

Expires: June 30, 2021Excludes Stetsons & Consignment items

MARCH / APRIL 2021

NEW HOURS!

saber

GOT CAVALRY HISTORICAL QUESTIONS

Did you know we have a 1CDA Historian?

Reach out to Terry A. McCarl with any questions, or information regarding 1st Cavalry Division history!

[email protected] or 402-296-3150

1st CAVALRY DIVISION ASSOCIATION - ALUMNI OF THE FIRST TEAM

ALMOST HEAVEN WEST VIRGINIA

POC: Jim HaysP.O. Box 97 French Creek, WV 26218-0097(304) 924-6380Email: [email protected]: Almost Heaven Chapter 1st Cavalry Division Association- West VirginiaMeets 2pm 1st Sat Feb thru Sept at Shoney's Restaurant, Flatwoods, WV.

CALIFORNIA CENTRAL COAST

Pres: Barney B. JonesP.O. Box 444 Pebble Beach, CA 93953(831) 917-5952Email: [email protected]

COLUMBIA-WILLAMETTE Pres: Terry Low1 6 5 6 0 S H a r d i n g R d . Oregon City, OR 97045-9679 (503) 210-5558Email: [email protected]: www.Hood2Hood1stCav.webs.comMeets 1200 2nd Thurs of ea mos at the Bomber Restaurant, 13515 SE McLoughlin Blvd, Portland, OR. No meeting in Dec.

CONNECTICUTPres: Keith Moyer48 Boretz Rd.Colchester, CT 06415-1009(860) 537-1716Email: [email protected]: CTCAVWe meet quarterly. Email me for info. All new & prospective members welcome.

CROSSED SABERSPres: Dennis Webster(254) 220-2164Email: [email protected]: 1st Cavalry Division Asso-ciation Crossed Saber ChapterGen membership mtgs Mar & Oct.Stable Calls: 4th Thurs of ea mos, 6pm, except Nov, Dec and the month of the Assn Reunion. Stable Calls at various locations in Cen TX area.

FLORIDAVP: Gill Harris(585) 704-2758Facebook: Florida Chapter 1st Cavalry Division AssociationMeets 1300 2nd Tues of ea mos at VFW Post 2093, 4444 Edgewater Dr, Orlando

FLORIDA’S FIRST COASTPres: Jesse Crimm4445 Silverwood LnJacksonville, FL 32207-6241904-534-8899Email: [email protected] at noon on last Tues of ea mos at alternating locations; EVEN mos: American Legion Post 137, 5443 San Juan Ave, ODD mos: Hooters Restaurant, 8938 San Jose Blvd, both in Jacksonville, FL. 32210

FLORIDA TROOP E “BLACK HAT”

Pres: Juan Kellog607 SE 47th St., Apt. 7Cape Coral, FL 33904-5506Email: [email protected]: Johnny Robertson1109 Highland Ave Lehigh Acres, FL 33972 (239) 265-1509Email: [email protected]: www.seahog.org/cav/index.htmlMeets 4th Sat ea mos from Sept.-May 1:00 pm at Mission BBQ, 12984 S. Cleveland Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33907

FORT KNOX AREAPres: Thomas Ken O’Barr12210 Valley Dr.Louisville, KY 40026-9501(502) 228-8032Email: [email protected]: Larry A. Whelan2103 Winston Ave.Louisville, KY 40205-2535(502) 439-6454Email: [email protected]: 1st Cavalry Div Fort Knox Area ChapterMeets 3rd Sat of mos at 1100 at the Barker Masonic Lodge, 705 MainSt., West Point, KY.

JAMES H. UNRUH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA

Pres: Michael T. Mazzaro2600 Willow St. Pike North PMB 231 Willow Street, PA 17584 (717) 389-1000Email: [email protected] on 1st Tuesday of odd number months at 6pm, at the Lititz VFW Post 1463, 14 N. Spruce St., Lititz, PA 17543

JAMES J. MASON WEST MICHIGAN

POC: Bob Anderson9030 Conservancy Dr. NEAda, MI 49301-8822(616) 682-5446 Email: [email protected]: jjmwmc1cd.comMeets on 3rd Thurs of Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct, and Dec, at 7pm, at the Grand Valley Armory in Wyoming, MI. JUMPING MUSTANGS 1-8 Cav

Pres: Rick Wagner 13950 Lake Mahogany Blvd #1212Ft. Myers, FL 33907(239) 337-2557E-mail: [email protected]: James C. Knafel5510E - 500 SouthColumbia City, IN 46725-7621(260) 244-3864Email: [email protected]: www.JumpingMustangs.com

KETTLE MORAINE Pres: Gordon Weidner1219 Cleveland Ave.Racine, WI 53405-2929(262) 637-3835POC: Robert RichterW204 N11945 Goldendale Rd.Germantown, WI 53022-2321(262) 628-8056We meet quarterly on 2nd Sat of Mar, Jun, Sept at 12pm at the Bunker in Wa-terford, WI. Elections are the 2nd Sat of Dec at 12pm at Meyers Restaurant in Greenfield, WI.

LOS ANGELES/ORANGE COUNTY

Pres: John Guillory780 Mandevilla WayCorona, CA 92879-8251(951) 278-3740Email: [email protected] Pres: John Burgner228 South Hacienda St.Anaheim, CA 92804-2569 (714) 535-0737Email: [email protected] 0900 on 3rd Sat. of mo. at American Legion Post 132, 143 S Lemon St., Orange CA 92866

LRRP/RANGER of the 1st Cav Division during the Vietnam WarPres: Robert J. Raab Sr. 725 Tuttle Mason, MI 48854(517) 525-0747Email: [email protected]: www.lrrprangers.comFull chapter meeting during Reunions.

NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY Pres: Bob Arbasetti973A Thornbury Ln.Manchester, NJ 08759-5296 (732) 657-4284Email: [email protected]: New York New Jersey CavalryInstagram: NYNJCavalryMeets at Elk Lodge at Cedar and Spruce, Ridgefield Park, NJ.

NORTH CAROLINA TARHEEL

Pres: Johnny Parker10915 Tradition View Dr. Charlotte, NC 28269-1411(704) 517-5445Email: [email protected] for Membership: Don Gibson803 McDonald Church RoadRockingham, NC 28379-8529(910) 417-9104Email: [email protected] 2nd Sat of Mar, Jun, Sept & Dec.

NORTHWESTPres: Gail Porter6791 Jasper PL SE Port Orchard, WA 98367-9038(360) 265-6216Email: [email protected]: William Al Jackson9703 Vantage Terrace CT SEOlympia, WA 98513(360) 539-8110Email: [email protected]: 1st Cavalry Division As-sociation-Northwest Chapter We currently meet online due to Covid-19. We will resume after the pandemic on the 1st Sat of even months, 12pm at Carr’s Restaurant, 11006 Bridgeport Way SW, Lake-wood, WA, except Christmas dinner, TBA

SHERIDAN’S CAVALRY(Greater Chicago Area)Pres: Don Smolinski 630-841-1452POC: Terry Hodous3718 W 114th PlaceChicago, IL 60655-3414(773) 445-1213Email: [email protected]: www.sheridansfirstcav.comFacebook: Sheridan’s Chapter 1st Cavalry DivisionMeets at the American Legion Post #1084, 322 E. Maple Ave, Roselle, IL 61072.2021 Meeting Dates: Feb 13, May 8, Picnic Aug 7, Oct 9, Xmas partyDec 4

WALTER H. WESTMAN NORTHLAND

Pres: Donald A. Delsing3697 Gresham Ave. N.Oakdale, MN 55128-3212(651) 770-5422Email: [email protected]: James D. Wright12781 Able St. NEBlaine, MN 55434-3261(763) 757-7140Email: [email protected]: Walter H Westman-North-land Chapter 1st Cavalry Division AssociationMeets quarterly at different locations. Call for updated information.

WILLIAM A. RICHARDSONNATIONAL CAPITOL REGION Pres: Gene Russell7923 Jansen Dr. Springfield, VA 22152-2413 (703) 220-5322Email: [email protected]: 1st Cavalry Division Nat’l Capitol RegionMeets 3rd Sat in Jan-May off Jun-Aug. Meets again Sept-Dec. Nov meeting in conjunction with Assn Vets Day gathering.

Are you tied into one of our Chapters? We encourage you to link into your

nearest chapter! Reach out to the president and meet

new Cav brothers/sisters!

From theDirector’s Desk O f f i c e o f 1 C D A

The mission statement for Soldier for Life is to connect Army, governmental, and community efforts to build relationships that facilitate successful reintegration of our retiring Soldiers, Veterans, and their Families in order to keep them Army Strong and instill their

values, ethos, and leadership within communities.Soldiers start strong, serve strong, reintegrate strong, and ultimately

remain strong as Army ambassadors to their communities. The 1st Cavalry Division Association (1CDA) and its members will help to ensure Veterans connect to resources and their communities as they make the important transition from active, Reserve, Guard or become civilian leaders. The 1CDA stands ready to help prepare those Soldiers to thrive as civilians and Veterans.Why is this important to the Association?

The Soldier for Life concept helps Veterans ‘bridge the gap’ from the service through reintegration into their communities. The 1CDA has 25 chapters across the US to help facilitate veterans during their reintegration and beyond. It is here that their Army Story becomes a legacy that perpetuates the proud traditions of the 1st Cavalry Division. “Once Cav, Always Cav…. First Team.”


S O L D I E R F O R L I F E UNITED STATES ARMY

W E S U P P O R T

The next Saber newspaper is the May/June 2021 edition.

Deadline for submissions of your stories or photos is Monday, May 3, 2021

Please email to [email protected]

2021 CALENDAR DONATIONSHope everyone is enjoying YOUR 2021 Calendar!

Thank you to our following members who have donated $100 or more towards our 2021 calendar:

E-4 HESTER, Robert $100.00E-5 PAVONE, Robert H. $130.00SGT VIGIL, Joseph J. $100.00GEN RET) VUONO, Carl E. $100.00

Calendar donations keep this program operational.

Without your donations we are unable to continue this program.Thank you to all our members that support this program!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT & GENEROSITY!

1st CAVALRY DIVISION UNIT BREAKDOWN1st Armored Brigade Combat Team "IRONHORSE"

• 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment “GarryOwen”• 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment “Lancers”• 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment “Stallions”• 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment “ThunderHorse”• 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment “Dragons”• 91st Engineer Battalion “Sabers”• 115th Brigade Support Battalion “Muleskinners”

FACEBOOK: 1st ARMORED BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM

2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team "BLACKJACK" • 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment “BlackKnights”• 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment “Mustangs”• 1st Battalion, 9th Cavalry Regiment “HeadHunters”• 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment “DarkHorse”• 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment “RollingThunder”• 8th Engineer Battalion “TrojanHorse”• 15th Brigade Support Battalion “Gamblers”

FACEBOOK: 2nd ARMORED BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team "GREYWOLF"• 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment “Chargers”• 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment “Ghost”• 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment “WarHorse”• 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment “Saber”• 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment “SteelDragons”• 3rd Engineer Battalion “Beavers”• 215th Brigade Support Battalion “Blacksmiths”

FACEBOOK: 3rd BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM

1st AIR CAVALRY BRIGADE "AIRCAV"• 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment “Attack”• 2nd Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment “Lobos”• 3rd Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment “SpearHead”• 7th Squadron, 17th Cavalry regiment “PaleHorse”• 615th Aviation Support Battalion “ColdSteel”

FACEBOOK: 1st AIR CAVALRY BRIGADE AIRCAV

1st Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade "WAGONMASTERS"• 1st Special Troops Battalion• 553rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion

FACEBOOK: 1st CAVALRY DIVISION SUSTAINMENT BRIGADE

1st Cavalry Division Artillery Brigade "REDTEAM"FACEBOOK: 1st CAVALRY DIVISION ARTILLERY

Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion "MAVERICK"FACEBOOK: 1st CAV HHBN

Today's 1st Cavalry Division breakdown is not what it once was. Below is the breakdown of the current units of the Division. Also for anyone on social media, please feel free to look up the units on Facebook and see what your old unit is doing.

THANK YOU for those who donated to the General Fund, Scholarship Fund & Calendar Program, we

couldn't do it without our dedicated membership!

We appreciate YOU!

1CDA OFFICE UPDATES1. Reunion Registrations: Please be sure to include

your $20 registration fee. Many members who have mailed in their registrations, have forgotten to add the $20 into the grand total. You will receive a reunion confirmation letter in the mail. Please read it carefully; we will let you know if you owe money.

2. In preparation for the Crossed Sabers Chapter Souvenir Gift Shop moving to 1CDA Headquar-ters in October 2021, catalog sales are now being run out of 1CDA Headquarters office. The current Gift Shop (inside the 1CD Museum on post) will close on or about 1 October 2021 when the 1st Cavalry Division Museum closes its doors in preparation for a move into the Mounted Warrior Museum. The current plan is to re-open the Gift Shop in Copperas Cove, 1 November 2021, just in time for the holidays. However, catalog sales will continue without interruption.

3. If you need to send anything to the Crossed Sabers Chapter Souvenir Gift Shop please mail to 302 N. Main St. Copperas Cove, TX 76522-1703 (the P.O. Box will no longer be used).

THANK YOU!To everyone who has shared their personal war stories.

I know your fellow 1CD Association members enjoy reading them. Keep 'em coming!

Email to [email protected]

PFC AMMER, SAMUEL PA B 1- 7C 8105E-4 ANDERSON, RALEIGH VA C 1-82 8206SP-5 BAGWELL, JOHN TX 15ADMIN 6703SP-4 BAKER, RONALD E. OK 1-5C 8401SP-4 BLACK, DREW CA HQ 1-227AHB 64SGT DE WEESE, DALLAS KY A 2-8C 6801MR. DELLANINI, ROBERT ID 1427 ASSOC SFC HAWLEY, JAMES MD 1-158C 1312SSG HURLEY, COY TX B 1- 615ASB 0904CW4 KINNEY, SCOTT TX A 1-227AVN 9707MR. KOCH, PETER 161 LASSOC E-5 KRZUS, MICHALE IL HHC 3BDE 7103SSG LEMOINE, WILLIAM R. TX D 1-8C 2010MR. MADDEN, BRIAN IE 1428 ASSOC CPT MURRAY, MICHAEL MD C 2-8C 1403SP-5 NEUREITER, BILL IN B 1-228AVN 69SPC OFFUTT, VINCENT E. TX 1CD 1708MAJ OTKEN, WESLEY TX 1CDH 90SP-4 PERKEY, ARLYN SC D 1-8C 6907LTC REYES, JOSE TX HQ 1-12C 2001CSM RIVERS, ANTHONY TX HHC 2-8C 122LT WILSON, TAYLOR OH HHC 2-7C 2011CPT WOODRUFF, DAVID UT 1-227AVN 83SPC XIMENEZ, AMY TX F 27BSB 06SGT YANDELL, KEVIN TX A 1-277AVN 8008


Louisville slugger18" Slugger Replica

Commemorative 1CDA custom wooden bat

Quantity:____________ Total Amount: $____________

Form of Payment: Cash Check Enclosed Credit Card

Credit Card # ___________________________________

Exp Date: ________ CVV on back: ________

Name on Card: Signature: Phone #: Name: Address:

MAIL TO: 1st Cavalry Division Association302 N. Main St. Copperas Cove, TX 76522

SHIPPING IS FREE

$10

memoirs of the first team in vietnam-special reprint edition

Limit 1 book per member

Amount Due: $ 85.00


Credit Card # ___________________________________Exp Date: ________ CVV on back: ________

Name on Card: Signature: Phone #: Name: Address:

Mail to: 1st Cavalry Division Association 302 N. Main St. Copperas Cove, TX 76522

SHIPPING IS FREE

the 1st air cavalry division: memoirs of the first team in vietnam-special reprint edition

Yes! This is the same book Acclaim Press offered in the Saber last year (where you purchased directly from the publisher). If you missed that opportunity to pre-order, we were able to order a limited amount of copies to have available to our members. Please mail us your completed order form located below.

ABOUT THE BOOKIn 1970, the Division published a full-color hardbound commemorative book to document the time spent by 1st Cavalry Skytroopers in Vietnam, from 1965-69.

Many of our members received a copy of this special book nearly 50 years ago, but over time the books were lost, damaged or worn down from frequent use. This reprint is identical to the original printing that rolled off the presses in 1970, but brand new and in pristine condition!

The 1st Air Cavalry Division in Vietnam-Special Reprint is a 10x12-inch, oversized hardbound volume with 296 pages with hundreds of full-color photos, printed on heavy-weight glossy paper for superior photo reproduction, with sturdy smyth-sewn binding for longevity, and bound in a classy black leatherette cover with full-color silk screening. Only $85 with FREE SHIPPING! Due to limited quantities, we are limiting 1 book per member.

LIMITED QUANTITIESavailable

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MARCH / APRIL 2021 saber20th and 79th Artillery Regiment News

Bruce Wilder1308 Blue Sky Lane Kingsport TN 37664

[email protected]

www.araassociation.com

Greetings to all! Well, what then shall we say of the New Year 2021? It could be a personal note or an observation of what has happened to most of us these last two months. Let us go for the latter!

Unrest: We had elected a new President that came with much distress; rhetoric that produced a less than pleasant change of leadership; a never before attack on our Capitol Building (and our Government) by our own people that left ca-sualties; a House of Representatives’ second impeachment brought against our sitting President which turned out the same as the first; our national death toll due to COVID-19 passing the 500,000 mark, reaching 520,000 at this writing, and still climbing; a national debt reaching $28 trillion (greater than the national debt of China, Japan, Germany, and India combined), and we are spending $800 million per day in interest on the debt; and the continued kneeling of some who protest our “Stars and Stripes” while making millions of dollars in a career they were supported and enabled to achieve by living in this free country. All this is painful and costly.

Hope: I understand their plight, but homelessness and poverty has stricken people of all races and ethnicity, not just in the United States of America, but in all countries. We seem to have lost sight of loving our neighbors as ourselves. God does not distinguish among his creation, neither should we, neither should we!

There were some positive happenings. The COVID-19 vaccines from man-ufacturers in the Warp Speed Contract include Novavax, AstraZeneca, Johnson and Johnson, Sanofi- GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer BioNTech, and Moderna. We hear more about the Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson here in the United States. Many of us older people in our eighties have received our first and second doses. I heard that a few of us had some reaction, but most did okay. Let us hope and pray that the vaccines will turn the tide for us and that we can return to a new normal!

Many churches have returned to guarded services with limited seating on an alternating schedule to provide worship opportunities for all members. Our church is continuing with our parking lot services with drive through communion which is working very well.

Observation: I wonder as I write this, what will the people who follow us think when they read about these activities. Will there be wonderment, puzzlement, or appreciation? Only our generational descendants can testify to that. Please get your vaccine shot ASAP! And let us beat this virus and learn to respect each other!

COVID-19 continues to overshadow our plans for the Savannah Reunion, but the mission recommences!! In light of the seemingly ever-changing situation, our plans have again been set in motion and it might be well to repeat some of the information previously shared and keep tabs on the upcoming events.

The 23rd ARA Reunion will be held in Savannah, GA, August 30 through September 3, 2021- with availability for those who wish it from August 28-Sep-tember 5, 2021. You can do that while you make your later reservation for 2021(1-912-231-9000 or 1-888-978-6498). So far, it appears we will enjoy all the same venues as originally planned.

Concerns: I have been in telephone contact with Carl Buick, a pilot from E-82nd Artillery, who flew the L-19 Birddog with several missions with ARA in 1970-71. Carl has been diagnosed with non small cell carcinoma and is being treated with the drug Keytruda and has seen positive results. While going through all this, Carl suffered a heart attack in February. Luckily, the EMS vehicle was two blocks away when alerted and picked him up at his front door and got him to the Central Washington Hospital and Clinic in Wenatchee in five minutes. Miraculously, 55 minutes after being rolled into the ER, Carl had a stent placed in his artery and was discharged that evening. He is at home recuperating and in good spirits. Please put Carl in your prayers for continued improvement.

Mail Call: “Letters from Vietnam.” Several years ago, I mentioned receiv-ing all the letters that the then CPT Al Woodruff, C Battery 2/20 ARA, wrote home to his wife, Joanne, in Daleville, Alabama. The letters were numbered 1 through 324 and covered much of our daily activities. They start 17 August 1965, from the time we left Fort Benning by bus on Route 280 to Savannah, on to the USNS UPSHUR at noon, and on through the Panama Canal to Hawaii and the Philippine to Quin Nhon and ultimately in the Central Highlands until the then MAJ Al Woodruff rotated on 11 August 1966. Joanne told me that I had her permission to use the letters in the Saber because they contained information worth sharing with the ARA Association membership. When asked about the personal comments, she replied, “That was part of being an Army Family during combat and I have no problem sharing the entire letter!”

I had previously covered the trip up to Hawaii in earlier issues and will now continue with the trip out of Hawaii. Letter number 10, dated 2 August 1965:

My Dearest Joanne,At 1400 this afternoon we got underway once more, out to sea and heading

for our destination. Of course, the speculative rumors have started about our stopping in Manila. Some have said we will stop there to marry up with our equipment. Sounds like a good scheme to me. I have had no official word at all. Something definite should come by the weekend anyway.

Had a surprisingly good day yesterday! Especially, since I talked to you from Hawaii. It was so wonderful to hear your voice. I do love you so very, very much! I had forgotten that Charlton would be in school. Thought I was calling late enough in the afternoon so that both (younger brother Kevin) would be up from naps when I called.

We docked at Pearl Harbor about 10am and were able to get off the ship about noon. A bus was there to take us to Fort DeRussy, a recreational center run by the army for all military services. It is on the Waikiki Beach right next to the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort (TV Series “Hawaiian Eye” starring Troy Donahue, Connie Stevens, Robert Conrad, Anthony Eisley, and Poncie Ponce) There the people sort of disbanded and went their own ways. A bunch from the Battery rented a car and went downtown. I did not join them.

My first stop was the PX where I got some things I needed and could not get on the ship. I picked up the boy’s canoes there and had them wrapped and tied.

Then I went over to the Hawaiian Village to the post office and mailed the pack-ages. Looked around but did not see anything else to get. That is quite a place, beautiful shops in a huge arcade. Then I went back to DeRussy and rented (for 25cents) a bathing suit and spent remainder of the afternoon (3-6) in the sun and swimming at the famous Waikiki Beach, nothing real special. The water was cool and exceptionally clean. Also, very salty! During this time, I also ran back and forth to the laundromat and washed a huge pile of clothing (we had no laundry service on the ship for the preceding ten days because of water shortages).

About 6:30 I took a fresh-water shower and relaxed in the fading sun, dressed, and went to the Officer’s Club Annex, where I met Roy Stevens and a CPT Bob Moxley. We had two martinis each and discussed what to do. A couple of fellows from the Battery (Agnew and Riley) had returned from town and said they were all getting together and going out again to the hotels on the strip so to speak, sort of like Sunset Blvd in Hollywood.

I happened to think that Martin Denny famous for “Quiet Village” may be in town, so I asked the club manager if he was and sure enough, he was at the Ka-hala Hilton Hotel and Resort about 4 miles from the center of town at the base of Diamond Head. I called to see if we could get in dressed the way we were (short sleeve khaki and boots) and the restaurant manager said “Sure, come on out!”

At any rate, Roy, Bob, and I went out there. Cost us a dollar each for the taxi. What a beautiful hotel. It would put any we saw in Las Vegas to shame for el-egance! We felt rather strange there in our boots to say the least! We had one martini before dinner that cost us $1.15 which I thought was very reasonable for the area. We made this last through the first show before we ordered dinner. I had the house special dinner, which was a teriyaki steak for $5.95, which again was cheaper than I thought it would be. We made dinner and coffee last us through the first half of the second show when we had to leave. We had to be back on the ship by 2400 hours as we left at 2300.

Marin Denny was particularly good. I sure wished then and now that you could have been there. All the voices (birds, crickets, frogs, etc.) that I thought were electronic ally or gimmick produced were the results of 2 of the group’s voices. I still do not know how they do it all. He played several of the numbers from records we have.

We got back to DeRussy in plenty of time to catch the GI bus to the ship, so we did not have to take the taxi all the way to Pearl Harbor. All in all, it was as pleasant an evening as I could have without you there to share it with me.

This is the one big thing in my life now, a hole. A hole about the size of you that is missing from my life. I love you so very, very much my darling. I do so long for your touch and the sound of your voice, near me, by me, and with me. I guess about all I can say is – I love you, I miss you - terribly. I always will, forever and ever. Now to bed and to dream of you. Love, Al

Thank you to the Woodruff family for sharing these letters with those who knew Al and Joanne.

Albert Rhea Woodruff, Lieutenant Colonel (USA Retired) passed away at home on June 24, 2007. He was survived by his wife of 49 ½ years, Joanne; two sons, Charlton Elrod, and Kevin Rhea; and two grandsons. He also has 5 adopted grandchildren and a great grandchild. He served one tour in Korea, two tours in Vietnam, receiving 2 DFCs for single acts of heroism. He was respected and loved by all who knew him and has been greatly missed. Memorial services were held on July 5, 2007 at 1:30 pm in the Mausoleum at Mountain View Memorial Gardens Cemetery, on Apache Trail east of Sossaman, in Mesa, AZ. Joanne E. Woodruff passed away on Wednesday, May 24, 2017. Joanne was living in Mesa, Arizona. I was in touch with Joanne until her death. Only after that did I feel the letters should be with her sons. While trying to reach Charlton, I received a voice message thinking it was Charlton. Later I contacted Charlton Woodruff, Jr., Al, and Joanne’s grandson, who is serving in the Pentagon and he was excited about the letters from Vietnam and expressed a strong desire to have them. I will see that he receives these letters for the family’s archives. I have been honored to have been the guardian of this precious and important part of our history! It is time they found their way back to the Woodruff Family. These letters would make a great book for the Woodruff future generations to have.

Here is hoping that the rest of 2021 is a Good New Year! May we all get in touch with the true meaning of brotherly love, the love for one’s fellow-man and woman, one’s brother or sister. The expression is taken from the Greek word “Philadelphia,” the love of brothers, which trait distinguished the early Christians communities. It was also important in the Essene brotherhood, who practiced brotherly love as a special virtue. In 2020, Philadelphia changed its nickname to the “City of Sisterly Love.” So now all bases should be covered!

Until next time, “this is Armed Falcon 28Delta, breaking left!”

Greetings: I would like to remind everyone that the 77th FA Association has scheduled our 2021 Reunion for September 15-20, in Colorado Springs, CO at the Elegante Hotel. We are going to be optimistic, and plan on the virus being under control and nowhere near the threat then, that it is today. The 2-77th FA

will be hosting the reunion, and it has some nice things planned. In addition, there is a lot to see and do in and around Colorado Springs: Pikes Peak, Cave of the Winds Park, Manitou Cliff Dwellings, several museums, casinos, lots of good restaurants, and you could even pan for gold at Cripple Creek.

To make reservation, call 719-576-5900; use code #2696746, and reference the 77th FA Reunion. Room rates are about $125, which includes tax and breakfast. The hotel has many amenities, including work out facilities, walking trails and restaurants. The hotel operates a complementary shuttle.

This promises to be another fun-filled get together. And please bring your wives; there will be plenty to see and do for everyone. Any questions, please contact me using the email address above.

7 7 t h FA N e w sJohn Moran

1013 Willowdale AveKettering, OH 45429

[email protected]

Want to see your name in the Saber under the Honor Roll? Honor Roll privileges are given to members who make a $25 or more

D Trooper donation, donation to the Association, or scholarship donations to the IaDrang or the Foundation.

Please Consider!

MARCH / APRIL 2021 saber1 5 t h M E D / 1 5 t h F S B / 1 5 t h B S B

In the 2014 MAR\APR Saber I wrote:

“I received a phone call on February 28, 2014 from Leif Aamot <[email protected]> who was in 5th of the 7th Cav

‘68-’69 and had made the division move down south to III Corps. He e-mailed his question in writing: Mike: Here is a summary of the events and situation that I described to you this morning.

“‘Starting on the 22nd of Nov 1968, Alpha Company, 5-7 Cav was operating in grid square XT4887, OPCON to 2-8 Cav, B Co 2-8, was also operating in the same grid. Both companies were working their way to the northwest.

“‘On the 24th, Alpha received log near XT 4888; the log bird received auto-matic weapons fire and left the area in a hurry. Alpha and one other company from 2-8, probably Delta, moved together toward the west.

“‘On the 25th, in grid XT 4687, Alpha encountered a bunker(s) and had three men killed and another three wounded. The MEDEVAC called in to pick up the wounded was shot at and returned to LZ Rita. At about the same time and only 400m away, B 2-8 received mortar fire and a ground attack; they had twenty-two wounded. Both A 5-7 and B 2-8 utilized artillery support, ARA and air strikes to break contact. A 2-8 was reportedly within 300m of A 5-7 but did not encounter the bunkers or enemy activity.

“‘On the morning of the 26th, in the same area, A 5-7 had six more men wound-ed and one killed. MEDEVAC was called. Six WIAs and one KIA were loaded on MEDEVAC 18, from Quan Loi, and it departed. Late in the day we (A 5-7) were told that MEDEVAC 18 had received heavy automatic weapon fire about a mile away from where it left us, and it was reported to have crashed shortly thereafter. C 1-9 Cav sent a bird to locate the downed MEDEVAC, which it did, but reported erroneous coordinates. By the time we were notified we were already moving south under orders to vacate the area because an Arc Light was being called in during the night. By evening we had moved about two miles to the SW, almost halfway to LZ Billy.

“‘At dawn on the 27th, the Arc Lights went in. C 1-9 Cav conducted BDA of the two Arc Light boxes, which completely covered the areas we had been in the previous three days. Many destroyed bunkers were sighted. By noon, A 5-7 had been picked up from a clearing secured by Custer Dodge and airlifted back to LZ Jake.

“‘On the 28th, A & B companies, 2-8, made it to the crash site and reported better coordinates. They reported finding and extracting twelve bodies, all burned in the crash. The bodies were bagged, and a MEDEVAC was called in to retrieve them and take them back to Quan Loi.

“‘I am trying to find someone, from either Bravo or Alpha, 2-8, who was there and recalls some of the events. Alternatively, I’d like to find someone who had the 2-8 S-2/S-3 Duty Officer Logs that would provide more details than I’ve found in the 2nd Brigade and Division logs.’

“Leif added, ‘The MEDEVAC that was shot at on the 25th, with three wounded aboard, might have opted to land at nearby Rita instead of risking the longer flight back to Quan Loi. It is not clear from the logs.

“‘MEDEVAC 18, shot down on the 26th, crashed about two miles from our location where it had picked up the six wounded and one KIA. We weren’t told that it had been shot down until later in the day.’

“The Memory Wall for 1968 on the 15th MED Website lists the names of the five crew members who died in the crash: 1LT Stephen Carl Beals, WO1 James Donald Doran, SP5 Johnny Glen Gregg, SP4 John Stephen Alling Jr., and PFC Robert Earnest Jones.

“I directed Leif to the National Archives for the after action reports Daily Journals; also, the 8th Cav columnist. Anyone in MEDEVAC then, could help with what they know; contact me or Leif. I would be interested to know who was there then, and who knew those crew members.”

The subsequent issues of the Saber in 2014 had MEDEVAC members’ respons-es to this writing. I wanted to piece together what was later said, to make one continuous, comprehensive story, to better remember those crewmembers, and extracted casualties, who were KIA at that shootdown in 1968.

One of those MEDEVAC members who commented on the article was former crew chief SP5 Randy Brewer- MEDEVAC 458/578. “‘After reading in the last Saber about the crewmen killed in Nov ‘68 Randy said: ‘I just received the March/April 2014 Saber and saw the article about MEDEVAC 18. I heard about their being shot down after I got back to the states but did not know the specifics. I flew with both Doran and Beals and knew John Alling quite well. Have quite a few photos of him. I was contacted by his family some years ago seeking information, but I really did not know the circumstances of his demise. I did make copies of all the photos I had of him and told the family we were good friends. I have long since lost all contact information I had with them. I did not know the other two (gunner and Medic) so they must have come into MEDEVAC after I left Oct.3, ‘68.’

“Randy adds: ‘I heard about Doran and Beals getting shot down after I got home. I heard that they were shot down and I also heard that a B-40 rocket went right up the exhaust on their aircraft.’”

In 2014 JUL/AUG Saber I wrote: “New evidence was found about how MEDEVAC 18 was shot down on 26 Nov 68. I had contacted MEDEVAC 20 Gil Gatto about SP5 Johnny Glen Gregg on that aircraft whose family had inquired to me. Gil replied, ‘I knew Johnny Gregg very well. He served on my helicopter as both Medic and door gunner. We lived together in the A Shau Valley for twen-ty-nine days eating C-rations only. He saved a lot of lives.

“‘I went to his mother’s house in Houston to present her with a plaque the MEDEVAC crews had made. I think his brother was there at the time. I have a few pictures of him. I will try to find them for you.

Mike Bodnar13010 N. Lakeforest Dr.

Sun City, AZ 85351-3250(623) 972-4395

[email protected]

“‘I was at the scene within a few minutes when they were hit by fifty caliber incendiary rounds which set fire to the aircraft. The helicopter exploded three hundred feet above the ground. There were seven wounded (casualties) on board. They just pulled out of a HOT LZ (landing zone). Johnny was killed

risking his life to save the wounded. We flew lots of MEDEVACs together.’

“Thanks to Randy Brewer for trying to re-member that incident which actually happened after he had left Vietnam. He contributed what he best knew that he had heard. I had also heard the story like him, which was mentioned in the last Saber.

“Also, KIA on MEDEVAC 18 with SP5 Johnny Glen Gregg, were: 1LT Stephen Carl Beals, WO1 James Donald Doran, SP4 John Stephen Alling Jr., and PFC Robert Earnest Jones.

As per my request, Randy Brewer sent photos of those he knew, CE John Alling, and KIA 14 Feb 69 CE Gary Dubach, which I include in this column.

“When I asked Gil about what we had heard he reiterated, ‘No. They had Cobra escorts. I was monitoring their mission while I was flying back from my mission. They had made their extraction of seven wounded and had cleared the trees. I thought they had made it fine but as they started to climb out there was an enemy 50cal position not known and were hit with the incendiary rounds setting them on fire. I heard one of the pilots-I think it was Beals-scream over the radio, ‘WE’RE ON FIRE! WE’RE ON FIRE!’

“‘I got their coordinates from the gunships who also informed me what hit them as I was a few minutes from their location. Their helicopter exploded three hundred feet above the ground.

“‘We looked but there was nothing left of the aircraft, and no chance of survivors.Randy Brewer is one of the finest crew members to ever fly MEDEVAC, and usually a hundred percent correct on anything he tells you, but it was 50cal not a rocket. I will always remember the screams of ‘We’re on Fire! We’re on Fire!’ It sounded like they were already consumed by the fire even in the cockpit.’

“Randy clarified when I mentioned Gil’s ‘eyewit-ness,”’ ‘Gil, I don’t think I stated flatly that a B-40 rocket got the aircraft. I heard both stories; that they had been shot down and then another story that a

B-40 went up the exhaust. I got conflicting stories about what really happened. Since I was not there, I was just passing on the two different stories that were related to me in the states.

“‘I did hear that they were shot down but did not know that the .51 cal Chi-com was firing incendiary rounds. Then I heard the B-40 rocket story but had no way to confirm either one. At any rate, 5 VERY BRAVE CREWMEMBERS and their patients met a very horrible death which always leaves a vacant place in my heart for them. Randy’

“MEDEVAC 20 Gil Gatto flew in some of the worst places-as if all 1st Cav places weren’t the worst-the A Shau, where he and Randy Brewer were together; and then, when the 1st Cav moved down to III Corps to clean up an NVA infiltration mess, and screen for the upcoming ‘69 Tet-so it would not be like the ‘68 Tet Offensive on Saigon, as elsewhere.

“I got e-mailed, ‘Hi Mike. My name is Weber Borrell, and I was SP5 Gregg’s First Sergeant in Nam ‘68-’69. I was the First Sergeant of Co A 15th MED. I did know him very well. He spoke to me about going to MEDEVAC in the early part of ‘68.

“‘I do remember the day that the MEDEVAC was shot down and that was a sad day for all of us that knew him. I saw the article in the Saber in March 2014. I may have met you when we had the Reunion in Miss. I have not been able to make any other Reunions. You probably remember Dr. Barton who was my company commander. I know that he has made several Reunions.

“‘I do have many photos mostly of locations of Company A ‘68-’69. I would be more than happy to send them to you if you would like to put them in the Saber. Thank you very much for your time, I look forward to hearing from you. Weber J Borrell, Sr., SGM (Ret) U.S. Army, Lafayette, LA.’”

I had put some of Weber’s photos in the Saber after he had sent them to me. They are best viewed in those past Saber issues. He had sent photos of photos, taken with his cell phone, so the reproduction was poor. Either access past Saber issues at the 15th MED Assn website, or the 1st Cav Assn website.

The 15th Medical Battalion Memorial Wall: <https://15thmedbnassociation.org/Memorial-wall/15th-med-bn-associa-

tion-memorial-wall.aspx>Always remembering our 1st Cav Troops on duty around the world; over and out. FIRST TEAM! Garryowen, Mike Bodnar C 2/7 Cav 1969, MEDEVAC 1-7/1970SO THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE

SP4 John S. Alling, Jr.

1LT Stephen C. Beals

PFC Robert E. Jones

SP5 Johnny G. Gregg

WO1 James D. Doran

If you served with the 1st Cavalry Division, you are part of the First Team Family!


Jesse Crimm4445 Silverwood Ln.

Jacksonville, FL 32207-6241(904) 737-6172

[email protected]

WELCOME HOMESOLDIER

12 CAV NEWSContinued from pg. 6help,” at that point all contact went dead. We contacted LZ Hammond, were relayed over to Pony and back to Hammond. A chopper pilot in the area came in on our frequency asking if he could help. We told him what was happening and asked him to fire on the north front of Bird to help defray the attack. He did but received returning fire from the ground. Chopper shot up bad and low on fuel he hobbled to Hammond, that was when someone finally realized that hell had broken loose on Bird and fire support and reinforcements were needed. At daybreak on 27th we heard from Bird, were quickly lifted to the LZ, and set about tending to the bodies and cleanup.

We could fill the Saber column and Crossed Sabers issues and the full truth could not be told. As Spencer stated, “There are as may truths as people involved in this battle. Some do not always agree but one thing we know as Combat Veterans, we agree that we are brothers with a bound beyond that of the average American going about his or her daily business. One that can only be earned by placing oneself at the base of the altar of freedom.” For those of us who escaped death it behooves us to tell the story as we know it. Therefore, we gather at the reunions. We know the truth as no others do and it must be told. Therefore, preserving the Associations are paramount.

The NVA declared LZ Bird a victory unparalleled. Marshall concluded in his book, “What has been written about the brave fight at LZ Bird must stand on its own. No American or foreign correspondents got up to the position. None visited Camp Radcliffe to do interviews about the operation. The Pentagon and MAC-V (Military Assistance Command-Vietnam) headquarters, though interested, still have not anything more than the foggiest notion of what happened.”

The fight won headlines on the following day in the national press. The stories were based on what hard-pressed bureau chiefs in Saigon had to assume out of scant information fed them by telephone from the field. LZ Bird was reported a loss to the U.S. and near short of a disaster. Our losses are mournful as stated by Marshall. But we the Troopers hold the truth, and we should tell it. Therefore, we strive to preserve our 12th Cavalry and 1st Cavalry Division Associations.

Google Cherries Writer-Vietnam War Stories on the internet to read Spencer’s story, Bad Night at LZ Bird written in the way only he can tell it. There you will see photos, maps, and various comments about his story. He has written several other stories and a full account of his 2014 trip to Vietnam. Spencer is now residing in Cuenca, Ecuador, and writing about his current experience. Spencer was the youngest Trooper in C Co beating me out by 21 days. We took a degree of pride in that status. A philosophical type of guy, not with wordy complicated theories but with a knack of seeing things from a different angle, that put it into a tolerable perspective for many of us.

Who knew we had a Hemingway in our midst, Salute…to a damned good storyteller!

Blessings to ALL, stay healthy, get your vaccinations, mask up and meet ya at the 12th Cavalry Reunion 31 May-6 June 2021…CRABTREE OUT!

SCHOLARSHIP DONATIONS1CDA supports four scholarships for qualified applicants:

ACTIVE DUTY SCHOLARSHIPSoldier has to be a member of 1CDA & assigned to 1CD. This grant is offered to the Soldier and spouse.

FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS100% Offered to the child/children of 1CDA members with a 100% disability rating, that were assigned to 1CD.

KIA To be used by child/children of Troopers killed in action while assigned to 1CD.

IA DRANG SCHOLARSHIPExclusive to the children & grandchildren of the Veterans who were involved in the battles of the Ia Drang Valley during 3-19 Nov 1965.

SUPPORT THE FUTURE, DONATE TODAY!N O T a v a i l a b e o n l i n e

Active Duty Foundation Ia Drang $_________ $_________ $_________


Credit Card # ________________________________________Exp Date: _______ CVV on back: ______ Total Amt: ________

Name on Card:

Signature

Phone #

MAIL TO: 1st Cavalry Division Association 302 N. Main St. Copperas Cove, TX 76522All scholarships of the 1CDA are tax-exempt charitable organizations described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and all donations are tax deductible.

BY MAKING A SCHOLARSHIP DONATION, YOUR NAME WILL APPEAR UNDER HONOR ROLL ON PAGE 23.

TAPSWe were notified of the following deaths:

AHRENBERG, CPL Bill, 13th SIG, 1950. 6 February 2021.BOTNEN, Trooper Robert H., A Co, 7-17 CAV, 1968-69; C Co, 7-17 CAV, 1972. 19 December 2020.BRADSHAW, LTC Edward G., CDR 15th Med Bn, 1965. 14 September 2020.BROYLES, CSM (RET) Jimmy L., H Co, 75th INF, 1971. 8 February 2021.BURINGTON, SGT Kenneth D., C Co, 2-5 CAV, 1967. 28 December 2020.CLEARY, 1LT Brendan O., 2-15 ARM, 1964. 1 January 2021. COUSINEAU, SGT Joseph R., 8 CAV, 1968. 24 March 2020.DELVALLE, CSM (RET) Eddie, HHC, 2-7 CAV & HHC 1-12 CAV, 2007-09. 6 January 2021.FLANDERS, 1SG (RET) Sherman C., C Co 2-4 CAV, 1962 & A Co 2-7 CAV, 1966. 24 February 2021.FLUKE, COL (RET) Eugene C., HHC & C Co 1-7 CAV, 1966-67. 19 February 2021.GARDINER, Trooper Ferd Jr., C Co 229 AVN, 1964. 19 February 2021. (Flor-ida Chapter President)GILLETTE, LTC (RET) William P., D Co, 1-9 CAV & HHT, 1-9 CAV, 1965-66. 30 January 2021.HAWTHORNE, SGT Louise B., HHC, 68th CHEM & HHC, 312 MI, 1988. 29 October 2020.HUME, COL (RET) Donald S., 1CD, 1945. 31 December 2020. (WWII)KRAMERICH, PFC Ronald F., B Co, 2-7 CAV 1967-68. 1 October 2020.MATTHEWS, SGT David B., H Co, 75th INF, 1969. 9 January 2021.MCCAMENT, SP5 Wesley E., A Co 15TC, 1966. 5 February 2020.MCCLURE, 1LT William M., HHC, 2-7 CAV, 1965-66. 15 February 2021.O’BRIEN, SPC Peter P., HHB, 61st FA, 1954-55. 9 January 2021.POMEROY, SSG (RET) William A., E Btry., 1-68th ADA, 1970-71. 16 January 2021.RANGEL, SFC (RET) John, A Co, 1-7 CAV, 1964-66. 18 February 2021.SANTIAGO, MSG (RET) Pedro C., HHC, 15th MED, 1972. 30 January 2021.SMITH, SPC Robert A., B Co, 5-82nd FA, 1962. 20 December 2020.SPEAKMAN, CSM (RET) Robert E., E Co, 1-12 CAV, 1962 & C Co., 1-8 CAV, 1965-66. 1 January 2021. TRIVISONNO, SGT Jerry, C Co, 1-7 CAV, 1967. 29 January 2021.WILKIE, SPC Richard E., H Co, 75th INF, 1968. 22 January 2021.

ACTIVE-DUTY TAPSWe have not been notified of any non-combat Active-Duty deaths.

The Defense POW/MIA Ac-counting Agency (DPAA) an-nounced that Army Chaplain CPT Emil J. Kapaun, of Pilsen, Kansas, who died as a prisoner of war during the Korean War, was accounted for March 2, 2021.

After serving in World War II, Kapaun returned to active duty in the U.S. Army and served in the Korean War with the 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On November 2, 1950, his unit was near Unsan when they came under heavy fire from Chinese forces and received orders to withdraw. Approximately a quarter of the unit’s Soldiers made their way back to friendly lines. The others, including many wounded Soldiers, became trapped. Kapaun volunteered to stay with the wounded and was soon captured and taken to a Chinese-run prison camp on the Yalu River’s south bank known as Camp 5.

Even after he became gravely ill, Kapaun continued to serve as a spiritual leader for his fellow prisoners, encouraging them to faithfully await their release and regularly defying his captors to bolster the collective morale of the POWs. Due to prolonged malnutrition, he died on May 23, 1951, after which the other POWs buried him in one of the camp’s cemeteries.

As part of the 1953 Korean Armistice Agreement, Kapaun’s remains were among the 1,868 who were returned to U.S. custody, but they were not able to be identified. At a White House ceremony on April 11, 2013, President Barack Obama posthumously awarded Kapaun the Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism and selflessness.

Kapaun’s remains had rested among the 867 remains buried as “Unknowns” at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (NMCP) in Hawaii. His remains were disinterred and identified as part of DPAA’s Korean War Disinterment Project, a seven-phase plan begun in 2018, to disinter all remaining Korean War Unknowns from the NMCP.

In 1993, Pope John Paul II declared Kapaun a Servant of God, the first stage toward possible canonization, which is the culmination of the Roman Catholic Church’s recognition of a deceased person as a saint.

For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA website at <www.dpaa.mil>.

CPT EMIL J. KAPAUN


The Military Police Corps, Regimental History Part Five, World War II continued

In European Theater Army operations, military police duties were like those performed in World War I. Additional authority granted to the military police provided for greater control of refugees, civilians, absentees, stragglers, and all activities within the rear area. Staff Provost Marshals recommended changes in the rear boundaries of corps and became the chief consultants in security planning for rear areas. Their excellent knowledge of rear area operations led to the appointment of a Provost Marshal/Rear Area Commander on 21 November 1944. Once assigned specific terrain, the provost marshal designated defensive measures against small-scale enemy attacks from air or ground guerrilla forces. The rear area defensive mission also included holding larger attacking elements in check until the arrival of tactical Troops. Military police likewise were used to halt bulges or breakthrough attacks by enemy frontline troops. Other mis-sions included: traffic control; collection, custody, and evacuation of prisoners of war; criminal investigations; enforcement of regulations and special orders of the commander; apprehension of deserters; reassignment or relocation of stragglers; cooperation with local civilian police on curfews, blackouts, police protection, anti-sabotage, and patrolling captured towns; control of civilians and civilian employees; supervision of installations for refugees and the feeding of non-combatants until G5 could assume that duty; security of all Army headquar-ters; control of the light line and straggler line; enforcement of all off limits areas in leave cities; informing G2 and G4 on the status of roads, bridges, and enemy activity; and establishing alternate road network subsections to speed divisions laterally across the frontlines.

During beachhead operations, military police came in fighting with the airborne and infantry divisions. When the First, Fourth, and Twen-ty-ninth Divisions hit the Omaha and Utah beaches on June 6, 1944, detachments from the 783d Military Police Battalion joined them in start-ing the beginning of the decline of the Nazi fortress in Europe. During the confusion and disorder of the first chaotic hours after landing, these combat policemen took over control of the huge volume of traffic debarking from the invasion fleet. In the thick of battle, they established direc-tion points and performed beach security patrol. On June 10, 1944, Company D, 783d Military Police Battalion, landed on the beaches of Normandy to relieve the 101st, 82d, and 4th Divisions’ military policemen. Their primary concern was to create order out of the hectic traffic flow to allow the forces to move from the beachheads to their assigned areas. Later, during the Battle of the Bulge, the 783d MPs were called upon again to shed their traditional role and become front line riflemen while maintaining vital roadblocks and bridges.

Following the beach landings at Normandy and the breakout at St. Lo, the 783d Military Police Battalion was assigned a more traditional but vitally significant role in supporting the Allied forces. As the Allies advanced through France, the lack of needed supplies, which lay in depots near the Normandy beaches, greatly hindered the forward movement of the combat divisions. The initial plan for the advance had called for utilizing the excellent French railways to move supplies forward, but it had been ruined by the destruction of the French rail system. A solution to this problem was the creation of the Red Ball Highway consisting of two parallel routes, each running one way, through Normandy, France, and Belgium. This network represented one of the greatest supply enterprises in mil-itary annals. Implementing the Military Police phase of the Red Ball Highway, the 783d Military Police Battalion began patrolling operational areas along the route, which constantly changed as the advance continued. Working at times under enemy ground and air attack, this battalion patrolled the Red Ball Highway day and night without blackout precautions. Making round trips of up to three

hundred miles, supply trucks delivered 41 2,1 93 tons of supplies along the route during the eighty-one days the Red Ball Highway operated.

No incident exemplifies the courage, tenacity, and determination of combat military police better than the security and movement of allied Troops across the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen, Germany. Left standing by the hastily retreating German Army, the bridge was given great priority for capture and protection by Supreme Allied Head-quarters. MG Louis Craig, 9th Infantry

Division Commander, ordered his Provost Marshal, MAJ Clair Hull Thurston, to move his military police ahead of the division to reconnoiter the best route and provide security to the bridge until the division arrived. On the morning of 6 March, the 47th Infantry began a crossing operation which attracted a barrage of enemy artillery and sniper fire that which lasted for ten days. The bridge traffic was limited to foot traffic for the first two days; but by 9 March 1945, trucks and tanks began to cross the span. Military police were stationed at intervals along both sides of the bridge, and other MPs manned sniper positions on the river-banks to prevent German frogmen from blowing up the bridge. From 9 March to 17 March the military police stood at their posts on the bridge. Unable to take cover, they maintained a steady flow of supplies, evacuees, and Troop movement across it. Since numerous vehicles were hit, the military police had to clear the wreckage and to serve as replacements for injured or frightened drivers. Aid

stations and prisoner of war cages at both ends of the bridge were also manned by military police temporarily rotated from their bridge positions. In addition, wire communications across the bridge were installed and maintained by the military police. After five days, the 9th Military Police Company was augmented by seventy-five infantrymen. By March 17, three divisions had crossed the bridge at Flemagen, and the 9th Military Police Company was ordered to return to its division which was rapidly advancing into Germany. The bridge collapsed just minutes after this company had left its positions. The military police displayed magnificent courage, control, and discipline throughout the ordeal. They showed little concern for their own personal safety in the face of almost certain death. Instead, they managed to speed traffic across the bridge, limiting casualties and aiding in the rapid advance of allied Troops. Their efforts were honored by the receipt of a Presidential Unit Citation for Gallantry in Action.

While the 9th Military Police Company was highly commemorated and dec-orated, there were other divisional military police companies which performed equally well under combat conditions. Landing on Omaha Beach during the D-Day attacks, the 1st Division Military Police Company cleared the beaches, processed almost 785 prison-ers of war, and established six inland traffic control points, despite the loss of its vehicles when its supply ship sank offshore. By the end of D-Day, four members of the First Military Police Platoon had earned the Silver Star: CPT RR. Regan, LT F.J. Zaniewski, LT Charles M. Conover, and LT William L. Bradford. Casualties sustained by the platoon totaled one killed in action and twenty-two wounded. In the rapidly advancing 4th Division, the military police had problems processing prisoners of war. At one time, there were as many as five processing points with from 300 to 2,000 prisoners at each. The total captured in a week amounted to about 11,200 prisoners, producing a ratio of one guard for every 300 prisoners of war. Eleven military police from this company received the Purple Heart because of their frontline combat duty. The necessity for rapid advance by military police squads to establish prisoner of war processing points sent this company into continuous frontline action.

While the world celebrated the con-clusion of World War II in 1945, the mil-itary police were engaged in disposing of the evil residue of that conflict. For the first time in the annals of military history, the perpetrators of war crimes were made to answer for their deeds before specially constituted war crimes tribunals and courts. Throughout those proceedings the military police guarded the accused, provided courtroom secu-rity during their trials, and supervised the fulfillment of the sentences, either

execution or imprisonment, of those convicted.The process for dealing with accused war criminals commenced in Europe

shortly after the fighting had ended there. Several top German military and Nazi party leaders initially were gathered at Mondorf-les-Bains in Luxembourg. There they were housed in the Palace Hotel, stripped of its peacetime finery, and equipped with bars on its room windows. COL Burton C. Andrus, a career cav-alry officer who had previously served as prison officer for an Army stockade at Fort Oglethorpe, was their warden. In August 1945, he transferred his charges, including Herman Goering, Hitler’s chief deputy, to Nuremberg, Germany, the location selected by the Allied Powers for the accused war criminals’ trial before an international tribunal composed of jurists from the United States, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union.

Nuremberg was an ironic choice for the trial. Formerly it had served as the site for Nazi party congresses and ral-lies. It also had been the namesake for the infamous Nuremberg Laws which the party had issued in 1935 stripping German Jews of their citizenship, prohibiting them from participating in such professions as law and medicine, and starting Germany down the road to the horrors of the holocaust. The Allies chose Nuremberg for the trial because its Palace of Justice with its adjoining jail was the most compact and intact facility available within Germany for

such a proceeding. The military police who served as guards at Nuremberg came from the First Infantry Division. Initially, COL Andrus had to make do with one under strength company. By the time that the trial commenced in November 1945, another company had been added to the guard force. Finally, in April 1946, the 793d MP Battalion arrived in Nuremberg and absorbed the two resident companies, the 802d and 821st MP Companies, into its ranks.

The trial of twenty-one leading German war criminals lasted until September 1946. During it, the MPs escorted the accused to and from the courtroom and pro-vided security within the courtroom into occupied areas, where they fostered trust and respect for United States forces. They combated the problems of lawlessness, plundering, and black-marketing while assuming the role of local government which had been prostrated by years of fighting. Although the Military Police Corps had been reduced to 2,078 officers and 19,630 enlisted men by 1947, many of these Soldiers were destined to serve in a new kind of conflict-a police action.

– TO BE CONTINUED –Contents and images in this photo history provided by the Branch and Com-

mand Historian, U.S. Army Military Police Corps, and the 545th MP Company Association Archives.

A Traffic Control Point

Landing at Beachheads

The Ludendorff Bridge, Remagen

Keeping traffic moving on the Ludendorff Bridge

Accused Nazi war criminals guarded by the Military Police, Nuremberg

545th MP Co NewsVictor Manuel Alvarez

504 Old Mission RdNew Smyrna Beach, FL 32168-8554

(210) 240-5527 [email protected]

MARCH / APRIL 2021 saberHQ and Special Troops News

Ron Killingsworth10329 Caddo Lake Rd

Mooringsport, LA 71060-9057(318) 426-3654

[email protected] Troopers and families from NW Louisiana where we just went through

a record-breaking week of sleet, 9 inches of snow, frozen water pipes, frozen city water, busted city pipes, no water for a week, record 0 degrees one night, below 10 degrees many nights. A friend sent me an email copy that she sent to her friends up north. She said, “Would you Yankees please come down here and get your weather! We don’t want it!” The following week it was 75 degrees and back to sweating. Now, I call that climate change. I know many had it much worse and our hearts go out to you, or as we say in the south, “Bless Your Little Heart!”

I hope you have your hotel reservations and registration sent in for the reunion at Fort Hood in September. It is going to be incredibly special, and you really do not want to miss it. The lack of reunion last year has me longing to renew old friendships and establish some NEW ones!

Over the past year or so I have been writing about the various branches within the U.S. Army. I think I have covered all the combat support branches except the branch I served in, Military Intelligence. I know! I have heard it all. An oxymoron! Since when does the Military have any intelligence! So, unless you have something new, do not bother sending me the standard old statements about Military Intelligence.

It is said that intelligence gathering (spying) is the second oldest profession. It takes little imagination to figure out what the oldest profession is said to be. Certainly, there are many references to collecting intelligence on foreign governments and foreign military throughout the history of the world. There are many references to intelligence gathering efforts (spies) in the Holy Bible. Military organizations throughout history have tried to collect as much intelligence about their enemy(s) as possible. Know your enemy!

The Military Intelligence (MI) branch of the U.S. Army is divided into many different types of intelligence collecting, sorting, and reporting. The goarmy.com website reports that the “Army MI officer is responsible for all collected intelligence during Army missions. They provide essential information that can often save the lives of Soldiers (Troopers) fighting on front lines. They command and coordinate MI Soldiers and combined armed forces, assess risks, and act to neutralize intelligence threats.”

Some of the specialists of MI are Human Intelligence Collector, Electronic Warfare Specialist, Geospatial Intelligence Imagery Analyst, Cryptologic Linguist, Human Intelligence Collector, Cryptologic Cyberspace Intelligence Collector/Analyst, Interpreter Translator, Computer/Detection Systems Repairer, Cyber Operations Officer and Specialist, Intelligence Analyst, Information Technology Specialist, Cyber and Electronics Warfare Officer and Specialist, Cyber Network Defender, Microwave Systems Operator/Maintainer, Signals Intelligence Analyst, Signals Collection Analyst, Psychological Operations, Nodal Network Systems Operator/Maintainer, Special Forces Assistant Operations and Intelligence Ser-geant, Radio Operator Maintainer, MI systems maintainer/Integrator, Special Forces Communications Sergeant, Signal Support Systems Specialist, Multichannel Transmission Systems, Satellite Communication Systems Operator/Maintainer, Signal Officer, Radio and Communications Security Repairer, Psychological Operations Specialist, Public Affairs Mass Communication Specialist, and last but not least, Counterintelligence Special Agents.

I am willing to bet you had no idea that MI was such a large branch, with so many different areas of expertise. I listed Counterintelligence last because that was the MOS I served in, at that time 971A. I understand there are very few CI Agents left in the current U.S. Army. There were a lot of them when I served from 68 to 84. They were always language trained in the language of their assigned country and there were specialists within Counterintelligence, such as Defense Against Methods of Entry (DAME), Investigative Photography, and Defense Against Sound Equipment (DASE) experts, as well as many polygraph operators. Most of the CI Agents were enlisted ranks from CPL to SGM. There were many warrant officers within Counterintelligence and most polygraph operators were warrant officers.

According to Wikipedia the Continental Army had the first intelligence officer in 1775. Washington appointed COL Thomas Knowlton as the head of Knowlton’s Rangers for the purpose of collecting intelligence information on the enemy. In 1863, MG Joseph Hooker established the Bureau of Military Information for the Union Army. In 1885, the U.S. Army established the Military Intelligence Division. In 1903 it was placed under the new general staff in an elevated position. In March 1942, the MI Division was reorganized ad the MI Service consisting of 26 people. In 1942, Alfred McCormack established the Special Branch of MI Service, which specialized in communications intelligence. In 1942, the War Department also established the U.S. Army Corps of Intelligence Police, which later became the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Corps (CIC), and then MI (Counterintelligence). In 1945, the Special Branch became the Army Security Agency. In 1946 the Army established the Army Language School in Presidio of Monterey which later became the Defense Language Institute. In 1954, the Asst Chief of Staff for Intelligence redesignated the CIC Center at Fort Holabird, MD, as the Army Intelligence Center. In 1971 the Intelligence Center and School moved to Fort Huachuca, AZ. In 1962, The Army Intelligence and Security Branch was established as a basic Army branch. The branch created the current MI insignia, the dagger and sun, replacing the sphinx insignia that had been in place since 1923. In 1977, the Army Intelligence Agency and the Army Security Agency were combined to become the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM). INSCOM is the U.S. Army’s major intelligence command and is located at Fort Belvoir, VA. There are many various intelligence brigades scattered around the world. The 470th MI Brigade at Fort Sam Houston, TX, and now has the 312th MI Battalion, the MI unit that I served in and the unit that was part of the 1st Cav Div back in the 80’s and 90’s.

When I first entered MI, the signals intelligence people were considered MI but were all assigned to the Army Security Agency (ASA) while the other intelligence types were assigned to the U.S. Army MI Command at Fort Meade, MD. There

were CI offices located throughout the U.S. and the CI Agents conducted back-ground investigations for security clearances for all the U.S. Army, regardless of rank, while the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) conducted the Navy and Marine background investigations, the Office of Special Intelligence/Investigations (OSI) conducted the U.S. Air Force and, I assume, the other branches had their own investigators. Most of the civilian population in various government agencies and contractors were investigated by the Office of Personnel Management.

While conducting a background investigation on some Army Soldier, I would visit the county/parish courthouse in their hometowns and would often run into agents from the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and other agencies. Most people think/thought that the FBI conducted the background checks, but they did not, except perhaps on high-ranking civilians and their own personnel. The U.S. Dept of State had the Bureau of Diplomatic Security and they did the backgrounds for State Department personnel, including various U.S. Ambassadors. I worked for them for a while after I retired from the Army.

In about 1972 the DOD formed a U.S. Defense Department organization called the Defense Investigative Service (DIS) and established offices all over the U.S. to conduct backgrounds on all military and DOD contractors. I was in Atlanta, GA, assigned to a MI Group at the time, 111th MI Group, I believe. I chose to go with the DIS and they pulled investigators for all the various branches of the military, including the civilian agents from ONI, and I was assigned to a field office of DIS in Atlanta. I served there three years and then when I returned from Germany in 79, was assigned as the Special Agent in Charge of the Tallahassee, FL, resident agency of DIS, again for three years.

Later they abolished DIS and then the Office of Personnel Management started doing ALL the background checks and I understand it was a huge mess with long waiting times and sloppy investigations. I recently read that DOD has formed a new agency, the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency! Listen, readers, nothing changes in the Army or DOD. It just goes around in circles. I think it will not be long until all the combat support battalions return to the di-visions, said battalions all stood down back in the early 90’s. I mean units like the 312th MI, the Engineer Battalions, the signal battalions, etc. But I have been wrong before, but not often!

Conducting background checks was just one of many jobs in Counterintelli-gence. We conducted security surveys, security inspections, lock and key in-spections, arms rooms inspections, and conducted investigations when classified documents were misused or lost. We assisted with changing combinations on security containers and recovering security containers that had been locked out. There were also Special Operations sections that were engaged in aggressive counterintelligence operations, especially in overseas locations. We chased a lot of spies while I was assigned to Bangkok, Thailand, for two years, and ran some special operations into North Vietnam and Laos. All CI agents had Top Secret clearances with SI and other many special categories such as NATO, SEATO, Brief Echo, COFRAM, etc. While assigned to the Pentagon I had every security clearance that existed and continual access to the highest classified documents and messages. It took me almost a whole day to get debriefed when I left that assignment. The main fields of counterintelligence at the time were espionage, sabotage and subversion investigations and denying intelligence to the enemy by catching their spies and preventing the compromise of classified documents.

There was another group of MI agents called Area Intelligence Agents. These agents were really involved in recruiting and running spies and special operations known as aggressive counterintelligence operations, often in connection with the CIA. We also had ground sensing radar, sensors and airborne intelligence collecting platforms.

I attended 47 weeks of the Vietnamese language at the Defense Language In-stitute before I went to Vietnam. I also attended 38 weeks of German language before my assignment in Duesseldorf, Germany.

I had many and various duties during my career. My last assignment was the S-2 officer of the 312th MI Battalion at Fort Hood, training 2LT’s to become intelligence officers in the brigades. Now, I hope to hear from the few MI Troop-ers who are members of the association. The readers would like to hear about more than just CI agents. Get those emails in to me, please, I am always short of feedback and articles for the column.

Well, folks, that is a wrap for this time. Hope to hear from you. This column is not about me, it is about YOU and how can I put your stories in the column if they are not sent to me. Sue and I wish you and yours the best. Stay Safe. Get the vaccine if you get a chance. Hope to see you in September. May God bless you and your families, the Great USofA, the U.S. Army and the famous 1st Cav Div. Live the Legend!

NATIONAL VIETNAM WAR VETERANS DAY

National Vietnam War Veterans Day on March 29 hon-ors the men and women who served and sacrificed during the longest conflict in United States history.

It was on March 29, 1973, when combat and combat support units withdrew from South Vietnam. Genera-

tions later, Veterans of this time period are gaining the respect that was not so freely given upon their return. Involving five U.S. presidents, crossing nearly two decades and 500,000 U.S.military personnel, it left an indelible mark on the American psyche.

Returning Veterans did not always receive respectful welcomes upon their arrive on American soil. There were 58,000 killed, never to return. National Vietnam War Veterans Day recognize the military service of these men and women who answered the call to service their country when she needed them. They didn’t make the decisions to go to war.

On National Vietnam War Veterans Day, we recognize the service and duty rendered by all servicemen and women of this era.

HISTORYU.S. Sens. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., and Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., introduced legislation

in 2017 to honor Vietnam Veterans with a day on the anniversary of the with-drawal of military units from South Vietnam. President Donald Trump signed the Vietnam War Veterans Day Act on March 28, 2017, calling for U.S. flags to be flown on March 29 for those who served.

MARCH / APRIL 2021 saberH O N O R R O L L

Thank you for the generous donations from our following Troopers:

Editor Note:Honor Roll privileges are given to members who make a D Trooper donation, donation to the Association, or scholarship donations to the IaDrang or the Foundation. Honor Roll privileges do not include calendar donations nor Saber renewals.

IaDrang & Foundation are both a tax exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in accordance with the IRS under section 501(c)(3), Charitable Organizations, Code Section 170.

CPL ANNICELLI, Anthony T. $30.00IMO PFC Donald CharltonCOL (RET) ABRAMOWITZ, Ben $25.00SGT ACKERMAN, Charles $25.00IMO PVT Arlan MillerSGT ANDERSON, James J. $25.00SP-5 ANTHONY, Herman Jr. $25.00SGT ARGYRIS, Spero $15.00MAJ AUSBORN, Darrell L. $25.00SGT BANKO, Stephen T. $50.00COL (RET) BARRY, John F. $25.00SP-4 BATAILLE, Paul D. $25.00CPT BONACCORSI, Paul P. $15.00SSG BRADEN, Paul R. $100.001LT BRAUNEIS, Paul F. $15.00IMO SGT Carl Reid1LT BROUGHTON, Robert L. $100.00IMO 1LT Richard Flattery and 1LT Art Few1-9 Cav 1968SGM BRZYSKI, Francis J. $25.00E-5 CAIRNS, Ernest L. $25.00E-4 CARPENTER, William D. $10.00IMO Team 1 LRRPSP-4 CHAVEZ, Gene M. $100.00MAJ CISNEY, John H. $15.00SP-4 CLARK, John M. $50.00IMO SSG Francis (Rusty) Brockmon III, KIA May 25, 1972SGT CLAYPOOLE, Harvey $100.00IMO Ranger William WeaverCPT CLOSE, Robert J. $25.00SP-5 CHAMBERS, David H. $25.00SFC (RET) CHUBB, Douglas Sr. $25.00SP-4 COLEMAN, Aaron $80.00SGT COLLINS, Martin $50.00COL CONNORD, Lawrence E. $30.00IMO SSG Robert Balsey, KIA 11/16/68B Co 1/7CavSFC CROCKETT, Thomas $25.00CW5 (RET) CROSBY, Richard E. $100.00SGT CYRULIK, David W. $25.00BG (RET) DePUE, John F. $150.00IMO 1LT Dana Biehl D Trp. 1/9 CAVSGT DUSCHER, John F. $25.00WO1 ELLIS, Steven C. $25.00MS. DANDY, Carol A. $200.00In Loving Memory of MAJ (RET) William A. Richardson & Eva Ulias RichardsonCPL DE FAZIO, Richard A. $25.00SGT DELSING, Donald A. Jr. $50.00IMO John Wheeler, IMO David Alan Spears SP-5 DUGAN, Steven D. $25.00IMO SP-4 Louis GoadSP-5 FERGUSON, Donald $65.00SP-5 FERRIER, Robert T. $25.00IHO B Company 228ASHB LongHornsPFC FREEMAN, Jess $100.00SP-4 GARDINER, Ken ‘Cisco’ $105.00IMO Particielli LZ Z-Ray 1/10/19SGT GENECKI, Peter E. $50.00IMO B 2/8MAJ (RET) GIFFORD, Michael W. $25.00

SP-4 GOODHUE, Paul F. $100.00Hello to the Guys! Sog Be 69-71CPT HALL, Sanci $50.00E-4 HASSON, Alain V. M. $20.00MAJ (RET) HARKNESS, Jimmy $30.00SSG (RET) HAUSER, Gary P. $30.00IMO A Co 285 Those who were lost 3/29/69SGT HEDBERG, Gene L. $15.00SGT HENRY, A. C. $100.00IMO SSG Carl Reid, 2/24/68, C Co 1-7 CavIHO Oscar Gutierrez SGT HERRICK, John $15.00LTC HOLMES, Lawrence B. $25.00SGT HONZO, Joseph E. $25.00IMO SP-4 David Wise C Troop 1/9 Cav 9-17-67SP-5 ICKES, Eugene $25.00IMO Our Lost Brothers & SistersMR. & MRS. Jeanette $100.00IMO Bill McClure HHC 2/7th CavSFC JOHNSON, Bryant $25.00IMO SSG (Joe) TalanGuns-A-Go-Go Vietnam KIA 1967MR. JONES, Ralph $1,000.00IHO To those who gave their lives Anonymous Battle 3/26/70, F.S.B. Jay 3/29/70 & F.S.B. Illingsworth 4/1/70. 42 K.I.A 137 W.I.A.MRS. KARSTENS, Arthur C. $50.00IMO Arthur C. KarstensE-5 KOESTER, Charles A. $15.00IMO All dead in the Tet Offensive 1968SGT KOLNOK, Michael J. Jr. $30.00IMO Captain John CostelloPFC LOPEZ, Frank “Sonny” Jr. $25.00SFC (RET) LIDBETTER, Michael $90.00IMO Those Who Were KIA 1/8 Cav 68’70’1LT LUTGEN, David A. $100.00IMO Gene WentworthSP-4 MAHONY, Paul B. $25.00SSG MARSHALL, Lanny R. $25.00COL (RET) MARTIN, James R. $30.00E-5 MATTEUCCI, Paul $25.00SP-4 MAUZY, Don $100.00CPT (RET) McPHAIL, Robby $50.00PFC MEYER, Charles $25.00SGT MOONEY, Mark A. $10.00IMO John Kim Voglesang PFC NORTH, Butch E. $20.00IMO SSG Ronald Martin- COL Eugene Fox E-4 O’GRADY, Michael $50.00T-5 OHNSTAD, Michas M. $25.00SP-4 OPITZ, Edward J. $25.00PSG PALMER, Leslie L. $25.00IMO Roger E. Denney 1/30FA KIA 3-11-69PVT PAYNE, John C. $100.00SP-4 PENDERGRASS, Stephen $50.00IMO Mike Webb 2/5 Cav SP-5 PETERSEN, Paul A. $25.002LT PHILLIPS, Joshua $25.00SFC POTTER, James H. $50.00IMO D Co 2/5 Cav 3-11-67CPT RAMPMEIER, William A. $100.00IMO SGT Coye A. Sanders, 545MP 1965-1966 5-14MR. RASMUSSEN, Don $250.00

E-5 RHODES, Stephen B. $15.00 CPT RIGELSKY, James J. $25.00SGT ROCKHOLD, Donald D. $20.00PVT ROOK, Walter $35.00SP-5 RUDL, Roy P. $50.00SFC (RET) SAWICKI, Richard W. $35.00IM Deceased Members of Vietnam Veteransof America Chapter 1048 E-5 SCHEIDLER, Steven $25.001LT SEPULVADO, Richard M. $25.00GEN (RET) SHINSEKI, Eric K. $400.00SGT SHOWALTER, Richard T. $25.00SGT SINES, Dennis $100.00IMO B 2/8 68-691LT SMITH, Patrick A. $100.00SGT SKODJE, Leonard $70.00IMO 1LT S. White B Co 1/8CW4 SOMMERS, Jerry C. $25.00SSG SPRINKLE, Rodney E. $25.00SGT STAHLEY, David V. $10.00SGT STANFILL, John R. $40.00IMO All B 2/8 TroopsSSG (RET) STEVENS, Charles T. $25.00SSG STIEFEL, Karl E. $25.00SGT STONER, James L. $25.00SP-4 SWEIGART, Dennis N. $30.00IMO SGT James H. UnruhSGT SWENSON, Gary P. $40.00 SP-4 TELLES, Thomas $25.00 IMO 1967 TroopersCW3 (RET) TESSMER, Larry D. $25.00IMO 1LT Wesley WoodfordMR. TOMCZAK, Ross $25.00CSM (RET) TRATT, Samuel G. $350.00SSG VAN BEEST, Larry D. $25.00IMO John Skipper KIA Dec 1966, 1/12 Cav (ABN) SGT VERDERBER, Thomas $40.00SP-4 VINGLISH, Mark $10.001SG (RET) WAGNER, Travis A. $25.00SGT WELLMAKER, Robert $50.00IMO SGT Charles Hackenmiller B, 1-7 CavSGM (RET) WENTHE, Dennis J. $30.00 IHO All VeteransCPL WESTERMEIER, Donald $25.00SGT WHITISH, Bruce $100.00IMO A 1/8 1967 1968MR. WHITTINGSTALL, Cliff $1,200.00SGT WILLIAMS, J. Perry $50.00IMO SGT Ron Barker, SGT Harry PetersenSSG Rex Frazier (KIA 11-9-70)CPL WILLIAMS, Warren Jr. $25.00COL (RET) WRIGHT, Raymond J. $100.00SGT WULFF, Richard $35.00IMO Cyril Anthony AlverazLTC (RET) YATTO, David A. $100.00IMO 1LT Matt LavenSGT YEVONISHON, John S. $25.00LTC (RET) ZABICKI, Bill $100.00IHO The Brave Troopers at Firebase Jay, RVN, 29 March 1970SGT ZDANCEWICZ, Jerome M. $15.00

9 CAV NEWSContinued from pg. 9ground-to-air fire near the Chup Rubber Plantation. Killed in the incident were the pilot, 1LT Frank Bengtson; the Observer, WO1 David Meyer, who had been in country less than a month; and the Torque, SP4 Larry Rothel.

Second Cambodia continued for a few more days, ending on 19 May 1971. Afterthat, most of the squadron stood down and went to Fort Hood. The exception was B Troop, which became, first, H Troop, 16th Cavalry, and then F Troop, 9th Cavalry, part of the 3rd Brigade (Separate), 1st Cavalry Division. Troopers of F/9 Cav continued to fight and take casualties until 1972.

SINCE THE LAST ISSUE: Bill Gillette, a charter member of the 1-9 Cavalry (and of the 3-17 Cav before that) passed away 31 January 2021. As chronicled in the Jan/Feb 2020 issue of the Saber, he was the man who began the tradition of the black Stetson Cav Hat now worn by cavalry units throughout the Army.

Jack Bracomonte passed away 10 February 2021 after a long illness. Jack was a Scout Gunner, better known as a Torque, in A Troop in 1970-71. At Troop reunions, Jack was always fun to be around; he will be missed.

REST IN PEACE, BROTHERSJim Kurtz, Apache 03, 1970-71

NATIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR DAY

National Medal of Honor Day on March 25 is dedicated to all Medal of Honor recipients. It was on March 25, 1863, when the first Medals of Honor were presented. Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton presented Med-als of Honor (Army) to six members

of the “Great Locomotive Chase” or “Andrews Raiders” for their volunteering and participation during an American Civil War raid on April 12, 1862.

Created in 1861, the Medal of Honor is the United States of America’s highest military honor. It is awarded only to U.S. military personnel, by the President of the United States in the name of Congress, for personal acts of valor above and beyond the call of duty.

There are three versions of the Medal of Honor: one for the Army, one for the Navy and one for the Air Force, with personnel of the Marine Corps and the Coast Guard receiving the Navy version.

Since its creation, there have been 3,468 Medals of Honor awarded to the country’s Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen.

AIR FORCE NAVY ARMY

We have revamped the Lifetime Mem-bership cards! If you would like to order one, please fill out the order form below. Due to spacing issues, we are going to type in your name as it appears in our database. There is no space for your rank.

The new cards are NOT available for Associate Members, the new cards are only available for our Life Time Members. On the back of the card it says:

1st Cavalry Division Association is a non-political, non-profit 501(c)19 fraternity for Soldiers and Veterans currently serving or have served in 1st Cavalry Division.

The Association is a group of Soldiers and former Soldiers from Private to 4-star Generals who share a bond of service with the FIRST TEAM who are dedicated to supporting the Division and each other.


Happy Birthday to these young Troopers!

Replacement Membership CardsThis card is presented to

PROUD LIFETIME MEMBER OF1ST CAVALRY DIVISION ASSOCIATION

Executive Director

302 N. Main St. Copperas Cove, TX 76522254-547-6537 / 7019

1CDA Membership Cards Total Due: $5.00 each

Cash: _______ Check: _______

Name: Signature:

Phone #:

Address: Mail to: 1st Cavalry Division Association 302 N. Main St. Copperas Cove, TX 76522

PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY

Birthday Wishes to our Troopers turning 90-100 years young!

MAJ (RET) ROBERT J. EARL turned 93 on 3/11/2021

MSG (RET) ENOCH I. POTTER turned 93 on 3/15/2021

COL (RET) HENRY J. STEIN JR. turned 93 on 3/15/2021

SFC HERMAN A. AHO turned 93 on 3/17/2021

CPL DAVID E. EVANS turned 97 on 3/29/2021

MSG LYNN E. ANDERSON turned 93 on 3/31/2021

BG (RET) JOHN C. BURNEY JR. turned 97 on 4/06/2021

SGT PATCH CURTIS turned 100 on 4/10/2021

PFC HOWARD O. DEAN turned 93 on 4/10/2021

SGT DAWES D. LEE turned 95 on 4/12/2021

SSG WILLIAM R. OAXACA turned 95 on 4/14/2021

SSG JOSEPH A. STEVENS turned 99 on 4/14/2021

1SG JOSEPH A. McCADDEN MD turned 95 on 4/16/2021

SFC FRANK GIAIMO turned 95 on 4/18/2021

COL (RET) DANIEL B. PEYSER turned 95 on 4/21/2021

PFC FLOYD G. SPICE turned 93 on 4/21/2021

Left is the progress of the Mounted Warrior Museum as of 5 Mar 2021. This museum will honor our mounted Soldiers and share the untold stories of their service to our nation.

The museum will feature extensive exhibits allowing visitors to understand Fort Hood's evolution from a temporary camp to a thriving military post with a critical national defense role.

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